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stead definition

stead (sted)

noun

  1. the place or position of a person or thing as filled by a replacement, substitute, or successor to send another in one's stead
  2. advantage, service, or avail: now only in stand someone in good stead, to give someone good use, service, or advantage
  3. Obsolete a place, site, or locality

Etymology: ME stede < OE, akin to Ger statt, a place, stadt, town < IE base *stā-, to stand

transitive verb

Archaic to be of advantage, service, or avail to

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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