stead

plural steads

1. The position or function (of someone or something), as taken on by a successor.First known use 15th c.

   Had Daniel Ortega not got himself illegally on to this year’s ballot to seek a third term, his wife might have run in his stead.

   2011 March 31, “Kin selection”, in The Economist

   2 more examples

   She was so wretched and so vehement, complained so much of injustice in being expected to go away instead of Anne; Anne, who was nothing to Louisa, while she was her sister, and had the best right to stay in Henrietta's stead!

   1817 (date written), [Jane Austen], Persuasion; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volume (please specify |volume=III or IV), London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC

   His nurse had told him all about changelings, and how the little people would always try to steal a beautiful human child out of its cradle and put in its stead one of their own ailing, puking brats […]

   1961, Muriel Saint Clare Byrne, Elizabethan Life in Town and Country, page 285

2. figurativelyA place as it relates to a role, service, or ability; capacity.

   He had intended to create diamonds with his experiments, but the accidental discovery of such amazingly explosive chemical reactions served him in a different stead.

   2013, Kevin J. Anderson, Clockwork Angels

   2 more examples

   One may not expect to entirely stop the oncoming energy but the outgoing stands in a different stead, for in this a certain amount of ruling is possible by the native.

   1902, Alvidas, Science and Key of Life: Planetary Influences, volume 1

   For instance, those who operate under generally available terms and conditions or whose interconnection agreements do not confer a contractual right to the BOC performance they seek under section 271 may stand in a different stead than those who have pursued claims that a BOC has failed to perform as required by agreement.

   2000, FCC Record

3. figurativelyuncountableA relational or circumstantial position; standing.

   Though small and delicate-looking, she gave an impression of intense earnestness and latent toughness, qualities that stood her in good stead when she dared to challenge the most intrusive communist society in eastern Europe.

   2010 September 19, Dan van der Vat, The Guardian

4. countablefigurativelyA place as it relates to situation, circumstance, or status; condition.

   The Adidas shirts look fantastic and certainly put us in a different stead.

   2019, Davinder Sangha, White Shorts, White Socks

   4 more examples

   Anthropology in India started in a different stead than what was the situation of its emergence in other countries.

   1969, Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress

   I shiver to the cold solitude Overwhelming desire to have a different stead I don't know why I don't know why I'm just afraid to fly […]

   2013, Sonnia De Guzman, Collected Poems, page 41

   It is not only the sheer size of its endowment or the range and extent of its network ties that place it in a different stead to other unofficial actors.

   2014, Michael Moran, Private Foundations and Development Partnerships

   Adding to the hem of a holy garment suggests a desire to be in a different stead.

   2021, C.E. Young, The Naked Truth Unveiled, page 67

5. archaicliteraryA place, or spot, in general; location.First known use 10th–19th c.

   "[…] I went to another stead in the yard to be further from her cries."

   2019, James Meek, To Calais, In Ordinary Time

   2 more examples

   For he ne wonneth in one certaine stead, / But restlesse walketh all the world around[…].

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

   The three Princes ceased not travelling together for seven days, at the end of which time one said to other, "Let us separate and let each make search in a different stead, so haply shall we hit upon our need."

   1885, Sir Richard Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night

6. obsoleteA place where a person normally rests; a seat.First known use 10th–18th c.

   There now the hart, fearlesse of greyhound, feeds, / And loving pelican in safety breeds; / There shrieking satyres fill the people's emptie steads.

   1633, P. Fletcher, Purple Island

7. obsoleteAn inhabited place; a settlement, city, town etc.First known use 13th–16th c.
8. archaicAn estate, a property with its grounds; a farm; a homestead.

   Only when he reached the stead road, and Wildebeast, did he concentrate on the image of carrion, of food for the sandwolf pack.

   2010, L. E. Modesitt, Jr., Darknesses, page 25

   2 more examples

   But of course I could not do this by myself, so I took a Hottentot—a very clever man when he was not drunk—who lived on the stead, into my confidence.

   1889 December, H[enry] Rider Haggard, “[Allan’s Wife] The Baboon-Woman”, in Allan’s Wife and Other Tales, London: Spencer Blackett, […], →OCLC, page 123

   Nordic types may turn to Frigga as queen mother of Asgard, or even to good friend Thor, known to gladly bless a new stead and to party with the best.

   2008, Bronwynn Forrest Torgerson, One Witch's Way, page 5

9. obsoleteThe frame on which a bed is laid; a bedstead.First known use 15th–19th c.

   The genial bed / Sallow the feet, the borders, and the stead.

   1693, John Dryden, Baucis and Philemon

present singular third person steads · participle present steading · participle past steaded · past steaded

1. obsoleteTo help, support, benefit or assist; to be helpful.

   I could never better stead thee than now.[…]

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]

   2 more examples

   May you stead me? will you pleasure me? shall I know your answer?

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]

   Some food we had and some fresh water that / A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo, / Out of his charity,—who being then appointed / Master of this design,—did give us, with / Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries, / Which since have steaded much:[…]

   1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

2. obsoleteTo fill the stead or place of something.

plural steads

1. SingaporecolloquialOne's partner in a romantic relationship.

   I prefer to know a guy better as a friend first before even considering him as a potential stead.

   1998 April 17, L.Angel, soc.culture.singapore (Usenet)

   3 more examples

   C'mon lah!! Wake up.. Y R U stupid girls so CHEAP!! Imagine a baby making out with an adult! Want to have stead,.. Go find 1 16yr old rich kid lah!! At for let those men take advantage!! Remember Men CANNOT be Trusted!! Boys maybe can.

   1997 May 27, Ordinary People, soc.culture.singapore (Usenet)

   One of the best dates I had was with his person who did attempt to impress me with expensive gifts or flowers. My date did asked though but I said no because for somebody who's not my stead and I dun feel there was a need to.

   1999 February 13, L.Angel, soc.culture.singapore (Usenet)

   after 2 week or so I decide to tell her I like her and asked her to be my stead. But she tell me she had another guy. So we remain as friend.

   2004 January 30, Fann Low, soc.culture.singapore (Usenet)

plural Steads

1. countableuncountableA surname.
2. countableuncountableA locality in Burley parish, Metropolitan Borough of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England (OS grid ref SE1446).