From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Stead \Stead\ (st[e^]d), n. [OE. stede place, AS. stede; akin to
LG. & D. stede, OS. stad, stedi, OHG. stat, G. statt,
st[aum]tte, Icel. sta[eth]r, Dan. sted, Sw. stad, Goth.
sta[thorn]s, and E. stand. [root]163. See Stand, and cf.
Staith, Stithy.]
1. Place, or spot, in general. [Obs., except in composition.]
--Chaucer.
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Fly, therefore, fly this fearful stead anon.
--Spenser.
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2. Place or room which another had, has, or might have.
"Stewards of your steads." --Piers Plowman.
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In stead of bounds, he a pillar set. --Chaucer.
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3. A frame on which a bed is laid; a bedstead. [R.]
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The genial bed,
Sallow the feet, the borders, and the stead.
--Dryden.
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4. A farmhouse and offices. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
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Note: The word is now commonly used as the last part of a
compound; as, farmstead, homestead, roadstead, etc.
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In stead of, in place of. See Instead.
To stand in stead, or To do stead, to be of use or great
advantage.
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The smallest act . . . shall stand us in great
stead. --Atterbury.
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Here thy sword can do thee little stead. --Milton.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Stead \Stead\, v. t.
1. To help; to support; to benefit; to assist.
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Perhaps my succour or advisement meet,
Mote stead you much your purpose to subdue.
--Spenser.
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It nothing steads us
To chide him from our eaves. --Shak.
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2. To fill the place of. [Obs.] --Shak.
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