STEAD, STED, noun [G. See Stay.]

1. Place; in general.

Fly this fearful stead

[In this sense not used.]

2. Place or room which another had or might have, noting substitution, replacing or filling the place of another, as, David died and Solomon reigned in his sted.

God hath appointed me another seed in stead of Abel, whom Cain slew. Genesis 4:1.

3. The frame on which a bed is laid.

Sallow the feet, the borders and the sted.

[But we never use this word by itself in this sense. We always use bedstead.]

To stand in sted, to be of use or great advantage.

The smallest act of charity shall stand us in great stead

STEAD, STED, in names of places distant from a river or the sea, signifies place, as above; but in names of places situated on a river or harbor, it is from Sax. Stathe, border, bank, shore, Both words perhaps are from one root.

STEAD, verb transitive sted.

1. To help; to support; to assist; as, it nothing steads us.

2. To fill the place of another.