▪ I. stead, n.
(stɛd)
Forms: 1 stede, styd(d, styde, steyde, 2–6 stede, 2–5 stude, 4–5 stud, stide, stad, 3, 6 stidde, 3–7, 8 arch. sted, 3, 5–6 stedd, 6 stedde, 4 steode, stode, stade, (stayd), 4–7 Sc. steid, 4, 6 styde, (5 steyde), 6 Sc. steide, steyd, 4–5, 8 stid, 5 styd, stydd, stydde, 7 stidd, 4–7 steede, 6–7 steed, steade, 5– stead.
[Com. Teut.: OE. stęde masc., corresp. to OFris. stede, stidi (NFris. städ, WFris. stêd town), OS. stad (?), stedi masc. and fem., place (MLG. stad, stede fem., place, town), MDu. stat, stēde fem., place, town (mod.Du. stad fem., town, stede, stee place), OHG. stat fem., place (MHG. stat, stete fem., place, town, mod.G. statt place, stead, stätte place, site, stadt town), ON. stað-r masc., place (Sw., Da. stad, with the sense ‘town’ from G.), Goth. staþ-s masc., place:—OTeut. *stađi-z:—pre-Teut. *stət{iacu}-s (cf. Skr. sth{iacu}ti standing, position, Gr. στάσις standing, stoppage, L. statim advb. accus., immediately, statio station n.), f. wk.-grade of *stā- to stand.
A parallel form, OTeut. *stađō(n)- fem., occurs in OHG. stata condition, opportunity, proper time or place (MHG. state, mod.G. statt in certain uses), MLG., Du. stade opportunity, help, ON. staða standing, position, condition. Some of the uses of stead closely approach those of MLG. stade, and may possibly be due to influence from MLG.]
† I. 1. Standing still, as opposed to movement; stoppage, delay. Obs. rare.
| c 1000 ælfric Hom. I. 156 Hwæt is þæs Hælendes stede, oððe hwæt is his fær? Ibid. I. 490 Sceawiað eac æfter ðisum, þæt nan stede nis ures lichaman: cildhad ᵹewit to cnihthade, and cnihthad to ᵹeðungenum wæstme. c 1400 Destr. Troy 4654 All turnyt þaire tacle with trussyng of sailes, And stird hom full streight withouten stad more Into Awlida þe yle. |
II. A point or tract in space.
Cf. place n. I.
† 2. A particular part of the earth's surface, or of space generally, considered as defined by its situation; a locality:
= place n. 3.
Obs. † a. with descriptive
adj. Obs.| c 975 Rushw. Gosp. Mark i. 35 Ðona eode in westiᵹe stowe vel steyde & ðær ᵹebæd. c 1050 Suppl. ælfric's Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 187 Circumlutus locus, mid wæter ymbtyrnd stede. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 85 Ðenne þe iuele gost..wandreð ouer al, fro driȝe stede to oder sechende reste. c 1290 St. Miȝhel 599 in S. Eng. Leg. 316 Novþe is þare uppe in þe ufte a swyþe cold stude, i-wis. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 388 Now se, mi Sone, which a sinne Is Sacrilege in holy stede. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. lviii. 79 Þat wyn whos grape..growys in playn and moyst valeyes, and stedys shadwyd. 1567 Drant Horace Ep., Art Poet. B ij, Of hills and dales and secret steades he feanes him to be fayne. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. xi. 46 Great God it planted in that blessed sted With his almightie hand. |
† b. defined by dependent genitive, or by relative clause.
Obs.| c 1000 ælfric Joshua v. 16 For þam þe se stede ys haliᵹ, þe þu on stenst. a 1300 Cursor M. 22963 Þe stede o dome quar all sal mete. 13.. K. Alis. 2548 (Laud MS.), Hij wendeþ to þe batailes stede And fyndeþ nouȝth bot bodies dede. c 1470 Harding Chron. cxxi. iii. 6 Whiche Abbaye is in Sussex, in that stede Where the batayle was. 1483 Caxton Golden Leg. 160/1 And al sodeynly the stones opened and shewed to alle the peple the place and stede where the holy body restyd. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. xii. 30 And now they nigh approched to the sted, Where as those Mermayds dwelt: it was a still And calmy bay. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. v. 261 Perceiueng..how Scopulous, stendirrie, or stanie, was the stedd, quhairon thay than stude. |
† c. indeterminately. Often coupled with
time.
in every stead: everywhere; similarly
in any stead,
no stead.
Obs.| a 1067 Charter of Eadweard in Kemble Cod. Dipl. IV. 209 Wiðinne burhe and wiðuten and on æloe styde, be lande and be strande. a 1225 Ancr. R. 316 Abuten sunne liggeð six þinges þet hit helieð;..persone, stude, time, manere, tale, cause. c 1230 Hali Meid. 22 Flih..þe stude & te time, þe mahten bringe þe on mis forte donne. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 2029 Yn stedys sere. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 1701 For dedely syn and þe devell and he In a stede may noght to-gyder be. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 318 So þise ordris holden not cristis rewele neþer in tyme ne in stide for crist preyede..bi hym self vndir the cope of heuene. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 359 This Pilour,..A famous man in sondri stede Was of the werkes whiche he dede. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. xlvii. 75 Slepyng aftyr eityng vpon soft beddes & wele sauorand, in steydes & tymes couenable. c 1420 Sir Amadace (Camden) viii. 9 Seche a stinke as I had thare..had I neuyr are No quere in no stid. c 1460 Towneley Myst. i. 38 Waters, that so wyde ben spred, be gedered to geder in to one stede. 1513 Douglas æneis xii. ii. 39 Or quhar the schene lilleis in ony steid War pulderit wyth the vermel rosis reid. 1552–3 in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 109 As the same was neadfully behoveable to be occupied from tyme to time at sondry steades. 1557 North Gueuara's Diall Pr. 122 Ought I, by wishe, to live in any stedde But closde with him together in the grave? 1566 Drant Horace, Wail. Hieremie ii. K iiij b, Ofte cryed they..Lyke wounded wightes throughout the streetes, they sounded in eche stede. 1596 Spenser F.Q. vi. i. 42 Next that ye Ladies ayde in euery stead and stound. |
† d. The place designated by the context.
in, on (the, that) stead, on the spot, there.
Obs.| c 1000 ælfric Joshua x. 12 Ne stira þu sunne of þam stede furðor onᵹean Gabaon. Ibid. x. 13 Þa stod seo sunne on þam stede faste. a 1175 in Napier Holy Rood-tree 22 Ne mihte heom nan mon of þam stude awæcgan. c 1205 Lay. 6370 A-nan se he wes wrað wid eni i þan stude he hine wolde slæn. c 1220 Bestiary 404 [The fox] goð o felde to a furȝ and..Ne stereð ȝe noȝt of ðe stede a god stund deies. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 2453, I þat ilke stude, anan, iwurðen twa wundres. 13.. Bonaventura's Medit. 135 To a logher place þey gunne þan to go... He made hem sytte downe yn þat stede. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 272 Bot the goddesse..appiereth in the stede, And hath..forbede That thei the children nocht ne sle. c 1400 Destr. Troy 8627 He stode þus in stid, starit hym vpon. c 1450 Mirour Saluacioun 1759 This hors and the two men than vanyst out of the stede. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. ii. 21 He ran Vnto that stead, their strife to vnderstond. |
† e. on stead,
in stead and stall: see
stall n.1 1
note.
| 1042 in Thorpe Charters (1865) 348 Nu bidde ic ealle Godes freond..þæt hi for Godes eiᵹe næfre ne beon on stede ne on stealle þær æfre undon worðe þæt..we nu ᵹeunnen habben into þæt haliᵹe minstre. c 1220 Bestiary 489 Ðis wirm bitokneð ðe man ðat oðer biswikeð on stede er on stalle. c 1440 Rule St. Benet (Verse) Prol. 146 Þat to hys neghburs dose no noy In stede ne stayll, þaire staite to stroy. |
† f. to give stead = to give place: see
place n. 23,
give v. 47 a, b.
Obs.| c 1340 Hampole Prose Tr. 19 Bot if þe þinke it oþer-wyse, or elles any oþer man sauour by grace þe contrarye here-to, I leue þe saying and gyfe stede to hym. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints iv. (Jacobus) 267 And þe stane, quhen he lad was þer, wex nesch as it wax war, and gaf sic sted to þat body, as It a grave had bene, in hy. 138. Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 41 Sitte not in þe first place, lest..þe lord of þe feste bidde þee Ȝiue þis man stede. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 322 Waylynge gyueth stede to ioye. 1483 Cath. Angl. 155/2 To Giffe stede, cedere, locum dare. |
† g. abstr. Situation.
Obs. rare.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 329 Þerfore first me schall telle of [þe] place and stede of þat lond [L. de situ terræ locali], how greet and what manere lond it is. |
† 3. a. An inhabited place; a city, town, village, hamlet, etc.;
occas. a country, land.
Obs.| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1114 For men ðor sinne un-kinde deden, so for-sanc and brente ðat steden [Sodom]. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1520, & hei duc of al þulke stude he clupede þen toun iwis After his name gloucestre. a 1300 Havelok 744 And for þat Grim þat place aute, Þe stede of Grim þe name laute. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 1163 A winde to wil him bare To a stede þer him was boun Neiȝe hand: Deluelin hiȝt þe toun. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints iii. (Andrew) 253 He met men bringand of þe sted a ȝonge man, þat wes ded. c 1400 Destr. Troy 9712 His body to britton, & his burgh take; All his stid to distroy, and his stith holdis. 1577 Harrison England iii. i. [ii. vi.] 96/2 in Holinshed, These 2. [drinks] are very common in Kent, Worcester, & other steedes, where these kindes of fruites doe abounde. |
† b. the Steads [
= MLG. de Steden]: ‘the Cities’ of the Hanseatic League; the Hanse Towns. Also, the corporation of Hanse merchants in London.
Obs.| 15.. Droichis Part of Play 106 in Dunbar's Poems 318 Swadrik, Denmark, and Norraway, Nor in the Steiddis I dar nocht ga. 1533 St. Papers Hen. VIII, I. 414 The Cytees of Lubeke, Danske, Hamburgh, Bromeswyke, and all other the Stedes of the Haunse Tutonyk. 1552 in Acts Privy Counc. (N.S.) IV. 141 The Merchauntes of the Steedes, commonly called the Merchauntes of the Stilliarde. 1557 Ibid. VI. 73 The said Merchauntes..have alleadged..that the Steades have byn so letted by greate busynes as they coulde not sende thiere Agentes for the going forwarde with the said Diet. 1558 Ibid. 315 The returne home into their cuntreys of the lxxvj hulkes of the Steades presently at Portesmouthe. 1558 Gresham in Burgon Life (1839) I. 484 Thatt you neavir restore the steydes called the Stillyarde againe to ther privelydge. |
† 4. a. A definite spot on a surface,
esp. on the surface of the body.
Obs.| c 1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 74 Lecge on ðone stede þe se spring on ᵹesittan wolde. a 1225 Ancr. R. 136 Bihold ofte þeron [the crucifix], & cus þe wunde studen. c 1300 Seyn Julian 57 (Ashm. MS.) Fram þe necke to þe fot ech stude it þoruȝ soutȝe. a 1375 Joseph Arim. 578 [He] wolde ha striken Seraphe at a stude derne, vppon an hole of his helm. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. i. 204 Thy vyne in oon stede alway, thou ne bynde. 1470–85 Malory Arthur vii. xii. 230 Thus they fought two houres..& in many stedys they were wounded. |
b. Sc. A mark, imprint, vestige. Chiefly
pl.| 1513 Douglas æneis iii. iv. 71 The pray half ettin behind thame lat thay ly, With fute steidis vile and laith to se. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. ii. 170 The reliques or stedis thairof [Adrian's Wall] this day ar seine, ȝit named the Vale of Adrian. 1710 Ruddiman Gloss. Virgil's æneis s.v. Stede, Fute stedis, foot steps, tract or print of the feet: For Stead Scot. is commonly taken for the foundation or ground on which a house or such like stands, or the tract or impression made in the Earth, and appearing when they are taken away. 1826 Galt Last of Lairds iv. 32 He nippit my twa lugs till he eft the stedt o' his fingers as plainly upon them as [etc.]. 1896 Crockett Grey Man v. 35 On the trampled clay and mud, there were the steads of naked feet. |
5. Chiefly with
possessive.
a. The place assigned to, belonging to or normally occupied by a thing; appointed or natural place.
Obs. exc. arch.| c 888 ælfred Boeth. xxxiii. §5 Ac þæs fyres aᵹen stede is ofer eallum woruldᵹesceaftum ᵹesewenlicum. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 117 God bi-quuad watres here stede. c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame 731 Thou wost..That euery kyndely thynge that is Hath a kyndely stede ther he May best in hyt conserued be. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 2 The fyrst day, as Saynt Jerom sayth, þe see schall aryse vp yn hyr styd. 1887 Morris Odyss. xii. 402 The mast in its stead we 'stablished and hauled the sails in air. |
† b. A space or place assigned to or occupied by a person; a seat.
Obs.| c 960 Rule St. Benet xliii. 68 (Schröer) Ne stande he on chore on his stede and endebyrdnesse, ac stande he ealra ytemest. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1418 Þe soþe myght y neuer wytte, who shuld yn þo stedys sytte. c 1400 Love Bonavent. Mirr. (1907) 106 Sitte and take thy stede in the lowest place. c 1400 Gamelyn 851 Whan Gamelyn was i-set in the justices stede. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. ix. 41 The souldier may not moue from watchfull sted, Nor leaue his stand, vntill his Captaine bed. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. vii. iii, Where glorious Cities stood,..There shrieching Satyres fill the peoples emptie steads. 1751 G. West Educ. xci, Fir'd with th' Idea of her future Fame She rose majestick from her lowly sted. |
† c. The place where a body of soldiers is stationed, a military position.
Obs.| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 5085 He did sette in wardes [v.r. stedes] seers, Knyghte to wachem, & squiers. 1577 Holinshed Hist. Eng. I. 39/1 Being returned into Gallia, [he] placed his souldiors in steeds to soiourne there for the winter season. Ibid. 49/1 Plautius..placed garrisons in steedes, where neede required, to keepe those places whiche hee had gotten. 1627 Drayton Agincourt 53 A vast Route..Had for their safety..Got in their flight into so strong a sted, So fortifi'd by nature..They might not thence, but with much blood be brought. |
6. A property or estate in land; a farm; also
† a portion of an estate.
| 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 247 Þe dettes þat men þam auht, þer stedes & þer wonyng, Wer taxed. 1452 in P. F. Tytler Hist. Scot. (1864) II. 387 All the tenants..except them that occupies the grangis and steids whilk war in the hands of the said Earle William. 1487 Exch. Rolls Scot. IX. 470 note, All and hale our stedis of Catslak [etc.] with aucht hundreith scheip..apon the said stedis. 1508 Kennedie Flyting w. Dunbar 365 Thow has a tome purs, I haue stedis and takkis. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 532 And mony ane out of his awin hous chaist, And mony sted wnpleneist lyand waist. 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. May 43 Thilke same bene shepeheards for the Deuils stedde. 1594–5 Durham Wills (Surtees) II. 255 A farme or stead, worthe 20 l. 1825 Brockett N.C. Gloss., Stead, Sted, Stid, a place, a farm house and offices. 1887 Stokes tr. Tripartite Life of Patrick 139 On the water is a stead, Buale Patraic (‘Patrick's Byre’) is its name. 1889 Rider Haggard Allan's Wife vii, I took a Hottentot..who lived on the stead, into my confidence. |
7. A site for a building; the land on which a building stands; also, an enclosure attached to a building, a yard. (
Cf. farmstead,
homestead,
mowstead.)
| 1246–68 Cockersand Chartul. (Chetham) III. i. 843 Quamdam partem terræ in Caton jacentem subtus le Walkemilnestude infra has divisas, scilicet [etc.]. 1534 Munim. de Melros (Bannatyne Club) 629 Giff it sall happyn ws..till byg..ane walk myll on þe said myll sted within þe saidis landis. 1546 Yorkshire Chantry Surv. (Surtees) 181 A barne stede j garden stede. 1610 Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 80 Lie teind-barne et teind-barne yaird, cum lie peithous-steid. 1634 Ibid. 103, 2 terras husb. et 3 terras cott. et lie grasteid. 1773 East Cottingwith Incl. Act 7 Messuage steads and cottage steads. 1894 R. S. Ferguson Hist. Westmorland 165 The ‘steads’ or sites of many disused ‘walk mills’ or fulling mills. |
† 8. The framework which supports the bedding of a bed.
Obs. Cf. bedstead.
| a 1400–50 Bk. Curtasye 517 in Babees Bk., Þen..the vssher..Brynges hym in bed where he shalle wynke; In strong styd on palet he lay. 1625 Quarles Sion's Sonn. xi. iii, The Bridall bed of Princely Solomon,..Was but of Cedar; and her Sted of gold. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 726 With Wars and Taxes others waste their own,..To loll on Couches, rich with Cytron steds. 1799 E. Du Bois Piece Family Biog. III. 102 The valance or curtain that hangs round the tester and stead of the bed. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Stead, the frame of a bed. |
III. Metaphorical and idiomatic uses.
† 9. In various rare or occasional uses.
a. Abiding-place (of hope, passions, etc.).
b. to take stead: to take effect.
c. in good (etc.) stead: in good (etc.) circumstances.
d. A space of time.
Obs.| a. c 1200 Vices & Virtues 95 Ðe faste hope hafð hire stede up an heih. 1395 Hylton Scala Perf. (W. de W. 1494) i. lxx, In thyn herte where the stede of loue is thou sholde mow haue parte of suche loue to thyn euen crysten. c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 3403 Wengeance, in þis good lord, hadde no stide. |
| b. c 1200 Ormin 10101 Hiss spell toc mikell stĕde i þa Þatt herrdenn whatt he seȝȝde. a 1300 Cursor M. 19266 And custom it es..Quen lagh es mad bituix þam neu At þe biginning for to be redd, Þat dred mai do þe lagh ta sted. Ibid. 29274 On þam þis cursing stede first takes. |
| c. 13.. R. Glouc. (Rolls) App. H. 30 Whanne he was out of wraþþe and was in god stad. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxviii. (Margaret) 91 Ȝet, þo scho wes in pouir stede & nocht with hyr fadir cane be fede, nocht-þane [etc.]. 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. xii. 23 With the souse thereof full sore aghast, He staggered to and fro in doubtfull sted. |
| d. 1596 Spenser F.Q. vi. vii. 40 [He] though she were with wearinesse nigh dead, Yet would not let her lite, nor rest a little stead. |
† 10. a. A place or passage in Scripture or other writing.
b. A point in order of progression.
Obs.| a. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 73 On oðer stude of rihte ileue spec þe apostle and seið..Inpossibile [etc.]. a 1200 Vices & Virtues 81 An oðer stede he seið, godd: Ve qui ridetis [etc.]. a 1225 Ancr. R. 144 Vor wecche is ine holi write i monie studen ipreised. Ibid. 410, I-writen on oðer stude. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiv. 131 As dauid seith in þe sauter..; And in an other stede also velud [etc.]. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 264 Ful many an other thing sche dede, Which is noght writen in this stede. c 1520 M. Nisbet N.T. in Scots Acts xiii. 35 And tharfor on an vthir stede he sais, Thou sal nocht geue thi hali to se corruptioun. 1557 Card. Pole in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1822) III. ii. App. lxviii. 507 And what is the benedictyon of this stede of almesse, the prophete Esaias shewethe in that same place. |
| b. c 1370 Lay Folks Mass Bk. (MS. B.) 454 When þou has made þis orison, þen shal þow with deuocion Make þi prayeres in þat stede for alle þi frendes, þat are dede. |
† 11. An office or position assigned to or held by a person.
Obs.| c 1000 ælfric Hom. in Sweet Sel. Hom. ælfr. 9 Þu ᵹeearnast..þone stede þe se deofol of afeoll þurh unᵹehyrsumnysse. c 1205 Lay. 239 Asscanius þe kene þe wes i kinges stude four & þritti winter he heold þat lond. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 3 Constantin & Maxence weren, on ane time, as in keiseres stude hehest i Rome. a 1300 Fall & Passion 17, 18 in E.E.P. (1862) 13 Har [Lucifer & his angels] stides for to ful fille þat wer i-falle for prude an hore, god makid adam to is wille to fille har stides þat wer ilor. c 1450 in Aungier Syon (1840) 363 When..any is absente, they that be present schal fulfylle ther stedes. c 1600 in Trans. Roy. Hist. Soc. (1902) XVI. 46 [They] shall continue in the said office place Roome and Stead of Assistants till [etc.]. |
12. The place, ‘room’, ‘lieu’, or function (of a person or thing) as held by a substitute or a successor. Only in certain phrases.
† a. to keep (a person's) stead: to be (his) deputy, act on (his) behalf. So
to commit one's stead to (another).
Obs.| c 1450 Godstow Reg. 72 He committid his stede to eueriche of hem, with þe powere of lawful constreininge. Ibid. 131 Whenne Ralph, prior of wircetur, kepid þe stede of Roger, bisshoppe of wircetur. Ibid. 350 A-fore þ⊇ prior of walingeforde, principall iugge, & the chaunter of walingeforde, kepynge the stedys of the abbottes of Abendon & of dorchester. |
b. to † do (
obs.),
fill,
serve,
supply the stead of, to serve as a substitute for. Now
rare.
| 1558 Bp. Watson Sev. Sacram. iii. 13 Martyrdome..dothe supplye the steede of Babtysme,..when onely necessitie..excludeth the Sacrament. 1601 Daniel Civ. Wars vii. lviii, Conducting their fresh troupes against their King (Who leaves a woman to supply his steed). 1611 W. Sclater Key (1629) 244 Suffering sometimes doth the steed of baptisme. 1837 C. Lofft Self-form. I. 199 They may serve the stead of presence of mind, to a certain point at least. 1888 Goode Amer. Fishes 2 The allied Percichthys replaces it in temperate South America,..while in northern China Siniperca fills its stead. |
c. in the stead of: (
a) in the room of, in succession to (one who has died, has retired from or is superseded in an office);
† (
b) as the deputy or representative of (
obs.);
† (
c) in lieu of, instead of (a person or thing that might more naturally have been chosen, have happened, etc.) (
obs.); (
d) in lieu of, in exchange for (something given up); (
e) predicatively,
to be in the stead of (also, ? nonce-use,
† to be in stead for), to make up for the want of. Now somewhat
arch.| (a) c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 425 Ðan bor ghe seht in ðe stede Of caym ðat abel for-dede. 1558 Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) 481 Mr. Thomas Fynen is elected Alderman in the styde of Mr. John Nangle. 1784 Acts & Laws Connecticut 159 Such Select-men and Committees as shall from Time to Time succeed, and come in the Room and Stead of others removed by Death. 1786 W. Thomson Watson's Philip III (1839) 255 Matthias II. being raised to the imperial throne in the stead of his deceased brother. |
| (b) c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 55 Siþ prelatis & prestis ordeyned of good comen in þe stede of postlis & disciples, þei ben alle bounden..to preche þus þe gospel. |
| (c) c 1400 Apol. Loll. 6 Þat þe peple..worschip not..þe fend in þe sted of Crist. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. xviii. 146, I putte lateyn in the stydde of Englyshe. 1460–70 Bk. Quintessence ii. 16 If ȝe haue non preparate redy..þanne take in þe stide þerof fyn brennynge watir. 1544 Betham Precepts War i. xxv. C ij b, For whych cause a capitayne..wyll cause false tales..to be sparpled abrode, in the stede and place of true tydynges. 1654 R. Codrington tr. Justine xx. 289 They brought home comfort to their distressed Army in the stead of help. 1734 Watts Reliq. Juv. (1789) 35 Sometimes they shew a painted idol in the stead of him [God]. |
| (d) a 1761 Law Comf. Weary Pilgrim (1809) 101 It was human nature..that had lost its first heavenly life and got a bestial, diabolical life in the stead of it. 1874 Green Short Hist. x. §3. 775 A Constitution..was accepted by Lewis the Sixteenth in the stead of his old despotic power. |
| (e) 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. vii. 7 A tall young oake he bore, Whose knottie snags were sharpned all afore, And beath'd in fire for steele to be in sted. 1839 De Quincey Recoll. Lakes Wks. 1862 II. 193 This pleasure was to him in the stead of many libraries. |
d. in his stead (or with any other possessive): (
a) as a successor in his room (
cf. 12 c (
a)); (
b) as his deputy or representative (
arch.), also
† predicatively;
† (
c) as a substitute in the place occupied by him (
obs.); (
d) instead of him (
cf. 12 c (
c)).
Now only
literary. Formerly the plural
steads was often used when preceded by a plural possessive.
| (a) c 1320 Seuyn Sag. (W.) 1207 Thai sschal..Put the out of thi kinges sete, And sette him stede inne thine. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. v. 39 Leste þe kyng and his Counseil ȝor Comunes apeire, And beo stiward in oure stude. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints Prol. 161 Mathias wes chosin in his stede. c 1400 Rom. Rose 4862 Whanne fader or moder arn in grave, Hir children shulde..Ful diligent ben, in her steede. 1603 Owen Pembrokeshire ii. (1891) 31 Chancerye and Eschequer were cleene abolished..and newe Courtes errected in theire steedes by the saied Statute. 1696 Churchw. Acc. Pittington, etc. (Surtees) 260 A new saxton to be chosen in his roome or steed. |
| (b) c 1400 Rule St. Benet (Prose) lxiii. 41 Þabbesse, for sho es in godis stede, sal be callid ‘dame’. 1417 in Proc. Privy Council (1834) II. 238 Charjng the captens and cunstables to take other in hor styddes. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xliii. 27 Send in ȝour steid, Ȝour ladeis grathit vp gay. 1560 Bible (Geneva) Gen. xxx. 2 Am I in Gods stede, which hathe withholden from thee the frute of the wombe? 1577 Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist., Socrates ii. xxxi. 288 In their steede which were absent, their readers and Deacons subscribed. a 1629 Hinde J. Bruen vii. (1641) 24 Acknowledging that he was unto him in Gods stead. |
| (c) 1590 Greene Never too late ii. (1600) Q 4, The seedes of shame I from my hart remoue, And in their steades I set downe plants of grace. 1612 R. Coverte Voy. 5 Which sheepe we tooke with vs and left sixe beasts or bullocks in their steads. 1676 Hale Contempl. i. 109 Thou..wert willing to put thy soul in our souls stead. 1728 Pope Dunc. i. 180 Or quite unravel all the reas'ning thread, And hang some curious cobweb in its stead. 1774 Chesterfield Lett. I. viii. 21 Diana put a hind in her [Iphigeneia's] stead. 1823 Scott Peveril xlix, Zarah..admitted that she had deranged the project.., by placing the dwarf in her own stead. |
| (d) c 1230 Hali Meid. 10 For under weole, i wunnes stude þu hauest her ofte helle. 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. x. (Arb.) 172 Some busie carpers will scorne at my new deuised termes: auricular and sensable, saying that I might with better warrant haue vsed in their steads these words, orthographicall or syntacticall. 1735 Pope Prol. Sat. 304 A lash like mine no honest man shall dread, But all such babbling blockheads in his stead. 1784 Cowper Task iii. 769 Down falls the venerable pile... Springs a palace in its stead But in a distant spot. 1813 Scott Rokeby i. iii, Terror reigns in sorrow's stead. 1852 H. Rogers Eclipse of Faith (1862) 210 Each seemed to substitute in its stead something he liked better. 1856 Longfellow Golden Leg. 11, Gottlieb. Or unless Some maiden..Offers her life for that of her lord, And is willing to die in his stead. 1871 C. M. Yonge Cameos II. viii. 103 He begged the King to choose in his stead, one of the numerous royal princes. |
† e. in stead of: see
instead.
Obs. f. stead of = instead of. (See
instead.) Now only
dial. and
colloq., and
usu. considered (also as
'stead) to represent
instead advb. phr.| 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas ix. xxix. (1494) G ij, Sabath desyrous to succede Stede of his brother the kingdom to possede. 14.. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems 76 The whyche..Songe a balad stede of the masse. 1612 R. Daborne Chr. turn'd Turke 1180 [He] who adiudged to death By his heads losse, should craue (stead of one stroke) To dye a lingring torment on the racke. 1791 Nairne Poems 131 And backwards, 'sted of forwards, walk. 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. ix, Or if, stead o' that, ye wad but dine wi' them at the change-house. 1903 K. D. Wiggin Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm xxvi. 279 Rebecca's fifty dollars had to be swallowed up in a mortgage, 'stead of goin' towards school expenses. 1916 G. B. Shaw Pygmalion ii. 121, I want to be a lady in a flower shop stead of selling at the corner of Tottenham Court Road. 1939 Joyce Finnegans Wake 283 They ought to told you every last word first stead of trying every which way to kinder smear it out poison long. 1971 Black World Oct. 62/1 The sweet-potato bread was a dollar quarter this time stead of dollar regular. 1978 J. Thomson Question of Identity x. 100 He'd've been all right with me... 'Stead of which..he marries her. |
† g. in the stead: instead of it, as a substitute.
| c 1450 Holland Howlat 777 He couth cary the cowpe of the kingis dess, Syne leve in the sted Bot a blak bunwed. 1567 Gude & Godlie Ball. 145 All Ire and malice thow put vs fra, Thy seruandis gouerne in the steid. 1615 Heywood Four Prentises i. I 2 b, Stage-dir., Guy and Eustace..beate the Pagans, take away the Crownes on their heads and in the stead hang vp the contrary Shields. 1708 Swift Abol. Chr. Wks. 1755 II. i. 93 Altering the constitution of the church established, and setting up presbytery in the stead. |
h. to stand in stead of,
instead of,
in the stead of: see
stand v. 49.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 3521 He..seide to þe quene, þat..he wold in hire sones stede stand euer at nede. |
IV. 13. a. Advantage, avail, profit, service, support;
esp. in
to stand in stead, also
† to stand to stead,
† to stand stead (see
stand v. 48);
to do stead,
† make stead,
† render stead. Now only
arch.| a 1300 [see stand v. 48]. c 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 66 Bot þis haþe no stede bot to so streyt a wounde þat þe been may take within his extremitez þe extremitez of þe wounde. 1513 Douglas æneis x. vi. 61 The giltyn mailȝeis makis hym na steyd, For in the coist he tholis dynt of deyd. 1524 Reg. Aberdon. (Maitland Club) I. 389 Ane precept of seysing without charter or ony oþer euident followand þerapoune suld do nane steide nor be of effect. 1524 St. Papers Hen. VIII, IV. 112 To rendre all hert, lefull service, steide, and pleasure, that lyeth in our power. 1524 Wolsey Ibid. IV. 139 [They] may and shal do grete stede in advertising the Kinges Grace from tyme to tyme..of the procedinges. 1542 Ibid. XI. 272 And now last of all what a stede His Highnes entryng in to the warre was to Him. 1546 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 47 Thai ar contentit to do steid and service to the said Schir Neill. 1551 Princess Mary in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 165 Of my good wyll and prayour to do you stede or pleasur, you shalbe ever duryng my lief assured. 1625 in Foster Eng. Factories India (1909) III. 113 He..assured him by passed experience what stead your language was to us in the time of our imprisonment. 1634 Milton Comus 611 But here thy sword can do thee little stead. 1643 Orkney Witch Trial in Abbotsford Club Misc. I. 175, I was about the loch with Jonet Sklateris,..but it is for no stead, it will never mend hir. a 1670 Spalding Troub. Chas. I (Bannatyne Club) I. 294 And sic [beasts] as wold not call thay hocht and slew, that thay sould never mak steed. 1823 E. Moor Suffolk Words, Stead, aid, assistance, usefulness. 1873 Browning Red Cotton Night-Cap Country 321 The two grey points that did him stead And passed their eagle-owner to the front. |
† b. to serve (one) in some stead,
no stead, to be of some, no advantage or profit to (one).
Obs.| 1601 Holland Pliny viii. xv. I. 200 His hornes bend so inward..that they serve him in no steed at all for fight. 1662 [see serve v.1 19]. 1678 Trans. Crt. Spain 170 What stead would the Queens word then serve me in. 1680 Burnet Rochester (1692) 46, I told him all his speculations of Philosophy would not serve him in any stead. 1712 Arbuthnot John Bull iv. vii, I am glad I have made the Experiment, it may serve me in some stead. |
V. 14. Comb.:
† steads bearing,
† stead holder [
cf. stadholder],
† stead-holding Sc., a ‘locum tenens’, substitute, deputy;
stead-horse dial. (see
quot. 1894);
† stead-man = steadward;
steadsman dial., a substitute, deputy;
† stead mother nonce-wd. (see
quot.);
† stead-stathelfastness = steadfastness;
† steadward (see
quot.).
| c 1460 Oseney Reg. 92 By þ⊇ vicare of Cudelynton or his *stedys beryng [orig. vel eius vices gerentem]. |
| 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 111 Verray vicare and *stede haldare till our lord Jhesu Crist. |
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxi. (Clement) 647 Bot opunyonys ware sere, quhethyr þire twa papis were, or þe papis *sted-haldande. |
| 1708 J. C. Compl. Collier (1843) 37 The Banck's-Man..leads his *Stead-Horse away with the Loaden Corfe. 1894 Northumb. Gloss. s.v. Steed, A ‘steed (or stead) horse’ is a horse employed upon a pit heap-steed. |
| 1613 R. C. Table Alph. (ed. 3), Steward, *steed-man, the keeper of the place. 1897 F. S. Ellis Reynard 283 A farm in old speech was a stead, And to the stead-man's name oft wed. |
| 1876 Whitby Gloss., *Steeadsman, a substitute for another person. |
| 1591 H. Smith Prepar. Marriage 106 A stepmother dooth signifie a *stedmother, that is, one mother dyeth, and another commeth in her stead. |
| a 1225 Ancren R. 6 Non ancre bi mine read ne schal..bihoten..bute þreo þinges, þet is, obedience, chastete, & *studestaþeluestnesse. |
| 1876 Whitby Gloss., *Steeadward, the keeper of the stead or place; a steward. Old local document. |
▪ II. stead, v. (
stɛd)
Forms: 2
stude, 4
stede, 5
stedde, 6–7
steed(e,
Sc. steid, 6–7
sted, 7–
stead.
pa. tense and pa. pple. 3
stedde, 4
stedd, 3–5
stad, 4
stadde,
staad, 3–6
staid, 4–8
sted, 6–9
stead; 4
stedyd,
Sc. -it,
-yt, 4–5
sted(d)ede, (4
stadded), 7
steeded, 7–9
steaded.
[Early ME. stude (ü), stede, f. stude, stede stead n. The pa. tense and pple. form stad is a. ON. stadde (pa. tense), stadd-r (pa. pple.) of steðja vb. to make to stand, stop, place, f. stað-r = OE. stęde stead n. The
ON. verb is ‘little used
exc. in
pa. pple.’ (Vigfusson); the
pres.-stem was therefore not adopted in
Eng., its place being taken by the
pres.-stem of the cognate native verb. The form
stad of the
pa. tense and
pple. is almost confined to the senses of Scandinavian origin (branch II); for an exception see
quot. c 1400 in 1 a.]
I. To stand in stead.
1. trans. (The
obj. was
prob. orig. dat.)
a. impers. or with
subj. a clause, inf., or noun of action: To avail, profit, be of use to (a person);
† to help (a person)
to do something. Also
absol. Now
arch.| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 77 Men þet..nulleð heore sunnen forleten boð on þe doules on-walde, and þet hwile ne studed hom nawiht þet ho singe pater noster. c 1400 Destr. Troy 4681 Þai with stode hom a stoure, but it stad litle. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. ix. 9 Perhaps my succour, or aduizement meete Mote stead you much your purpose to subdew. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. ii. i. 119 So it steed you, I will write..a thousand times as much. 1592 ― Rom. & Jul. ii. iii. 54 (2nd Qo.) My intercession likewise steads my foe. 1619 Drayton Idea xv. Minor Poems (1907) 52 Since to obtaine thee nothing me will sted, I haue a Med'cine that shall cure my Loue. 1661 Glanvill Van. Dogm. 31 The concession of which will only steed us as a Refuge for Ignorance. 1832 Miss Mitford in T. A. Trollope What I Remember (1887) II. 339 Your answering these questions will stead me much. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. I. iii. ix, It steads not the doomed man that he have interviews with the King. 1838 Emerson Addr. Lit. Ethics Wks. (Bohn) II. 212 Translate, collate, distil all the systems, it steads you nothing. 1879 E. Arnold Lt. Asia iv. 274 How hath it steaded man to pray. |
b. Of a thing: To be useful or advantageous to. Also
absol. Now
arch. (
rare.)
| 1594 Daniel Compl. Rosamond (ed. 2) lxxxvii, All these teares you shed will nothing steed. 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. ii. iv. Columnes 236 Here-by, a Crane shall steed in building more Then hundred Porters' busie pains before. 1598 R. Grenewey Tacitus, Ann. vi. viii. (1604) 134 The Sarmates laying aside their bowes which steeded them but a short time, ran in to the enemie with their swords and launces. 1600 Holland Livy ix. xxiv. 331 The place will steed you, I know. 1601 Shakes. All's Well v. iii. 87 Had you that craft to reaue her Of what should stead her most? 1610 ― Temp. i. ii. 165 Rich garments, linnens, stuffs, and necessaries Which since haue steeded much. 1608 Topsell Serpents 273 It is cleere that they [spiders] were made to serue and stead vs to many excellent vses. 1623 Whitbourne Newfoundland 54 Which fish is in all those parts in great request, and steeds them greatly. 1635 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Banish'd Virg. 79 Arrowes, speares, and javelings to steede them in occasions of boording. 1841 Browning Pippa Passes iii. Poems (1905) 182 But guess not how the qualities required For such an office..Would little stead me, otherwise employed. 1891 M. M. Dowie Girl in Karp. 254 No adjectives would stead me. |
c. With
subj. a person: To succour, help, render service to. Now
rare.
| 1582 T. Mathew in Nicolas Mem. Sir C. Hatton (1847) 300 Knowing how much you have steaded me therein from time to time. 1600 Holland Livy xxii. xxxii. 452 If they could haue bethought themselues of any other meanes besides, wherein they might steed and befriend them. 1604 Shakes. Oth. i. iii. 344, I could neuer better steed thee then now. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. Concl. §2 They [the Britons] steeded the Romanes in most of their Conquests. 1625 W. B. True Sch. Warre 15 The Sea of Rome in times past was for the most part wont to steede it selfe with the endeauours of the Minor obseruant Fryers. c 1645 Howell Lett. (1655) II. xxxiii. 44, I shall be glad to steed you in any thing that may tend to your advantage. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxiii, It's like I may pleasure you, and stead your father in his extremity. 1834 Sir H. Taylor Artevelde ii. iii. ii, Alas! Would I could stead you more than with the prayers Of such a sinful creature! 1888 G. Gissing Life's Morning II. 147 The consciousness of what was before her killed her power to stead him in his misery. |
† d. To serve (one's turn), minister to (necessities, desires).
Obs.| 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. lxxii. i. 269 If kings had ynough in themselves too stedde their turnes withall. 1573 ― Calvin on Job xxxi. 16–23. 535 True it is that wee cannot steade all the necessities that we see. 1603–26 Breton Mad World (Grosart) 9/1 If in either my aduise or better meanes, I may stead your desire, you shall [etc.]. 1605 A. Warren Poor Man's Pass. etc. E 4 b, So Competence Necessities may steede. |
† e. To supply
with something helpful. Also
const. of.
Obs.| 1587 Golding De Mornay xxxiiii. 552 He sendeth vs pardone, and steadeth vs of a Suertie that is able to pay our debts: this Surety is the Messias. 1592 Babington Notes Gen. ii. 9 The great power of God to furnish and steede himselfe euer with meanes to effect his wyll. 1648 Bp. Hall Select Th. lxxii. 207 Thou..thoughtst fit to stead him with such a society as might make his life comfortable to him. |
† f. To suffice for, serve the needs of. Also
absol. Sc. Obs.| 1497 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 335 Item,..for ane cabil tow to stede the well of Dunbar quhen it was red. Ibid. 357 Item, to Schir Andro, to steid the pur folk for vij owkis, xxj lib. 1519 Extracts Burgh Rec. Edin. (1869) I. 190 That na maner of persouns..by ony meill in greitt, mair nor will steid his awin hous honestly quhill Michaelmes nixttocum. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 71 Victuall als to steid for fourtie dais. 1557 Tusser 100 Points Husb. xix, Thy saffron plot..shal stede both thine own house, and next neighbour too. |
g. dial. In passive: see
quots.| 1823 E. Moor Suffolk Words, Stedded, suited—engaged. ‘I can't git no work—the farmers are all stedded.’ a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Stead, to supply a place left vacant. ‘I am at last steaded with a servant.’ |
† 2. To serve (a person)
for.
Obs.| 1563 Winȝet tr. Vincent Lirin. Ded., Wks. (S.T.S.) II. 6 A litle..instrument that may suffice ws..for a speir or a spade..; and with that also may sted for a bricht lantern. a 1652 Brome Queene's Exch. iv. i, You have yet a Brother May stead you for a Father, Husband, Friend. |
† 3. to stead up: to fulfil in the stead of another.
| 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iii. i. 260 Wee shall aduise this wronged maid to steed vp your appointment, goe in your place. |
II. To place.
4. To establish, fix, place. Chiefly
pass., to be situated, stand.
Obs.| a 1300 E.E. Psalter lxxxvii[i]. 8 Over me es þi wreth stedde [Vulg. confirmata]. a 1300 Cursor M. 1045 Now es adam in erth stad [Gött. stad, Fairf. stadde]. Ibid. 1442 He moght wel thinc his stund to strang þat in þat sted ware staid sa lang. c 1325 Poem temp. Edw. II (Percy) 6 Whan the ȝong persoun Is stedyd in hys cherch. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. v. 6170 And whan saw we þe seke and in prison sted. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 983 Ones ho bluschet to þe burȝe, bot bod ho no lenger, Þat ho nas stadde a stiffe ston. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxvi. (Baptist) 585 Þe quhilk sancte tecle with hir tuke,..& stedit it honorably in þe kirk of marytany. c 1400 Sc. Trojan War ii. 508 A brassynge horse..In whome may weille a thousande knyghtes Be steddede. c 1400 Sege Jerusalem (E.E.T.S.) 33/589 [Þey] broȝten þe bishup & alle his bew clerkes Þer þe standard stode & stadded hem þer. 14.. Sir Amadace (Robson) xlii. 9 In stid quere thou art stadde. c 1440 York Myst. xvii. 28 That..stedde yone sterne to stand stone stille. a 1450 Bk. Curtasye 231 in Babees Bk., Ȝif þou be stad in strange contre, Enserche no fyr þen falles to the. 1473 Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879) I 177 Ȝif tha thynk that tha ma sted tham bettyr in vthir placis tha sal haue our fre licens. 1500 Caldwell Papers (Maitland Club) I. 52 The quhilk tenands ye said lord erle promitte to steid in uthir place. 1618 W. Lawson Orch. & Gard. ix. (1623) 25 Stead them on the North side of your other Apples. 1821 Keats Isabella xx, But it is done..To honour thee..To stead thee as a verse in English tongue. |
† 5. To put into a certain condition, to settle.
Obs.| c 1470 Henry Wallace ix. 1893 For thai traistyt, and Scotland war weill stad, Wallace wald cum, as he thaim promyst had. Ibid. x. 748 Thus in gud pece Scotland with rycht he stad. |
† b. refl. To apply oneself.
Obs.| c 1425 Non-Cycle Myst. Plays (1909) 47 Onto my warke I must me stede. |
† c. To treat, deal with.
Obs.| c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 614 in Babees Bk., The bak of þe Crevise, þus he must be sted: array hym as ye dothe þe crabbe. |
† 6. pass. To be placed
in a certain (evil or difficult) plight or condition; to be burdened
with (sickness), beset
with (enemies, etc.).
Obs.| a 1300 Cursor M. 674 In mikul blis þan was he staad. Ibid. 13787 Bot sua wit seckenes am i stadd þat i ne mai to water win. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints ii. (Paul) 26 And sailand in Italy In parelis wes he stad sindry. 14.. Burgh Lawis xcv. in Anc. Laws Scot. (Burgh Rec. Soc.) 46 Gif.. and eftirwart he that tuk the lande in nede is stadd it to sell. c 1440 York Myst. xlviii. 289 In harde presse whan I was stedde, Of my paynes ȝe hadde pitee. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 5586 In sorow was he stadd. c 1470 Rauf Coilȝear 136 Sa troublit with stormis was I neuer stad. c 1470 Henry Wallace ix. 901 Sen we ar stad with enemys on ilk syd. c 1480 Henryson Test. Cress. 542 Now is my breist with stormie stoundis stad. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 47 Honorious of Rome the emprioure, That tyme with seiknes staid wes in ane stour. |
† b. With adverb,
to be hard (straitly, stiffly, etc.) stead: to be hard put to it, to be beset with difficulties or perils.
Cf. bested pa. pple.| a 1300 Cursor M. 3470 Þe leuedi was ful ferli drad Als womman þat ful hard was stad. 1375 Barbour Bruce iii. 204 Men redys off mony men that war Fer hardar stad then we yhet ar. Ibid. vi. 664 They wend I wes stratly stad. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints vii. (James Less) 650 Full hard in þat towne þai war sted. c 1400 Rowland & O. 1528 There were oure folkes full styffely stadde. a 1440 Sir Eglam. 459 Thou haste byn strongly stadd. c 1440 York Myst. xlv. 137 Men þat are stedde stiffely in stormes or in see. a 1450 ? Lydg. To Sov. Lady 109 Therfore I love no labour that ye lese Whan, in longing, sorest ye be stadde. ? c 1470 What shall I do? 10 in Q. Eliz. Acad. 86 Thus am I sted ful heuely. a 1500 Ratis Raving i. 461 Quhen þow art stad ocht narowly With Irous wyll and gluttony. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 125 He circulit him sone efter at ane seig, Into ane place quhair he wes sted rycht herd. 1605 1st Pt. Jeronimo iii. ii. 91 O me, ill stead, valliant Rogero slaine. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xix, O father, we are cruelly sted between God's laws and man's laws. |
† 7. intr. a. To stay, tarry.
b. To stop, come to a stand.
c. To stand, consist.
Obs.| 13.. K. Alis. 4146 Alisaunder to him cometh, and nought stet. c 1420 Avow. Arth. xliii. 13 The knyȝte stedit and stode. c 1420 Anturs of Arth. xxxii. 4 (Ireland MS.) Tell me..Quy thou stedis in that stid, and stondus so stille? c 1440 York Myst. xlvi. 94, I schall nott stedde in no stede but in stall and in strete. c 1460 Towneley Myst. vii. 206 For soth, my lord, I shall not sted till I haue theym theder led. c 1500 Sc. Poem on Her. 170 in Q. Eliz. Acad. 100 In quhat metallis or colouris that thai sted. |
Hence
† ˈsteaded ppl. a., ? placed in position.
Obs.| 1609 Ev. Woman in Hum. ii. i. C 4, Let your faire hand be beame vnto the ballance, And with a stedded peyze, lift vp that beame. |
▪ III. stead obs. form of
steed.