Etymology

in one's stead

Today it means: As a successor to someone or something. Full definition →

First used ca. 1230Middle English in ones stede
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The story

  1. Middle English · inherited fromin ones stede
  2. English todayin one's stead

From Middle English in ones stede, equivalent to in + one’s + stead (“function or position of someone or something, as taken on by a successor; (obsolete) place, spot”).

First known use, by meaning

  • from ca. 1230 As a successor to someone or something.
  • from ca. 1230 Instead of or rather than someone or something.
  • from ca. 1230 As a person's deputy or representative.
  • from ca. 1230 As replacement for someone or something in a physical place.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.