Perhaps my succour or advisement meet, Mote stead
you much your purpose to subdue. --Spenser.
It nothing steads us To chide him from our eaves.
--Shak.
2. To fill place of. [Obs.] --Shak.
Fly, therefore, fly this fearful stead anon.
--Spenser.
2. Place or room which another had, has, or might have.
``Stewards of your steads.'' --Piers Plowman.
In stead of bounds, he a pillar set. --Chaucer.
3. A frame on which a bed is laid; a bedstead. [R.]
The genial bed, Sallow the feet, the borders, and
the stead. --Dryden.
4. A farmhouse and offices. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Note: The word is now commonly used as the last part of a
compound; as, farmstead, homestead, readstead, etc.
{In stead of}, in place of. See {Instead}.
{To stand in stead}, or {To do stead}, to be of use or great
advantage.
The smallest act . . . shall stand us in great
stead. --Atterbury.
Here thy sword can do thee little stead. --Milton.