| 释义 |
▪ 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. *stətí-s (cf. Skr. sthíti 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.
c1000ælfric 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. c1400Destr. 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.
c975Rushw. Gosp. Mark i. 35 Ðona eode in westiᵹe stowe vel steyde & ðær ᵹebæd. c1050Suppl. ælfric's Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 187 Circumlutus locus, mid wæter ymbtyrnd stede. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 85 Ðenne þe iuele gost..wandreð ouer al, fro driȝe stede to oder sechende reste. c1290St. Miȝhel 599 in S. Eng. Leg. 316 Novþe is þare uppe in þe ufte a swyþe cold stude, i-wis. 1390Gower Conf. II. 388 Now se, mi Sone, which a sinne Is Sacrilege in holy stede. c1400tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. lviii. 79 Þat wyn whos grape..growys in playn and moyst valeyes, and stedys shadwyd. 1567Drant Horace Ep., Art Poet. B ij, Of hills and dales and secret steades he feanes him to be fayne. 1590Spenser 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.
c1000ælfric Joshua v. 16 For þam þe se stede ys haliᵹ, þe þu on stenst. a1300Cursor 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. c1470Harding Chron. cxxi. iii. 6 Whiche Abbaye is in Sussex, in that stede Where the batayle was. 1483Caxton 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. 1590Spenser 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. 1596Dalrymple 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.
a1067Charter of Eadweard in Kemble Cod. Dipl. IV. 209 Wiðinne burhe and wiðuten and on æloe styde, be lande and be strande. a1225Ancr. R. 316 Abuten sunne liggeð six þinges þet hit helieð;..persone, stude, time, manere, tale, cause. c1230Hali Meid. 22 Flih..þe stude & te time, þe mahten bringe þe on mis forte donne. 1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 2029 Yn stedys sere. 1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 1701 For dedely syn and þe devell and he In a stede may noght to-gyder be. c1380Wyclif 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. 1390Gower Conf. I. 359 This Pilour,..A famous man in sondri stede Was of the werkes whiche he dede. c1400tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. xlvii. 75 Slepyng aftyr eityng vpon soft beddes & wele sauorand, in steydes & tymes couenable. c1420Sir Amadace (Camden) viii. 9 Seche a stinke as I had thare..had I neuyr are No quere in no stid. c1460Towneley Myst. i. 38 Waters, that so wyde ben spred, be gedered to geder in to one stede. 1513Douglas æneis xii. ii. 39 Or quhar the schene lilleis in ony steid War pulderit wyth the vermel rosis reid. 1552–3in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 109 As the same was neadfully behoveable to be occupied from tyme to time at sondry steades. 1557North Gueuara's Diall Pr. 122 Ought I, by wishe, to live in any stedde But closde with him together in the grave? 1566Drant Horace, Wail. Hieremie ii. K iiij b, Ofte cryed they..Lyke wounded wightes throughout the streetes, they sounded in eche stede. 1596Spenser 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.
c1000ælfric Joshua x. 12 Ne stira þu sunne of þam stede furðor onᵹean Gabaon. Ibid. x. 13 Þa stod seo sunne on þam stede faste. a1175in Napier Holy Rood-tree 22 Ne mihte heom nan mon of þam stude awæcgan. c1205Lay. 6370 A-nan se he wes wrað wid eni i þan stude he hine wolde slæn. c1220Bestiary 404 [The fox] goð o felde to a furȝ and..Ne stereð ȝe noȝt of ðe stede a god stund deies. a1225Leg. 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. 1390Gower Conf. II. 272 Bot the goddesse..appiereth in the stede, And hath..forbede That thei the children nocht ne sle. c1400Destr. Troy 8627 He stode þus in stid, starit hym vpon. c1450Mirour Saluacioun 1759 This hors and the two men than vanyst out of the stede. 1590Spenser 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.
1042in 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. c1220Bestiary 489 Ðis wirm bitokneð ðe man ðat oðer biswikeð on stede er on stalle. c1440Rule 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.
c1340Hampole 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. c1375Sc. 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. 1450–1530Myrr. our Ladye 322 Waylynge gyueth stede to ioye. 1483Cath. Angl. 155/2 To Giffe stede, cedere, locum dare.
†g. abstr. Situation. Obs. rare.
1387Trevisa 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.
c1250Gen. & Ex. 1114 For men ðor sinne un-kinde deden, so for-sanc and brente ðat steden [Sodom]. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1520, & hei duc of al þulke stude he clupede þen toun iwis After his name gloucestre. a1300Havelok 744 And for þat Grim þat place aute, Þe stede of Grim þe name laute. c1320Sir Tristr. 1163 A winde to wil him bare To a stede þer him was boun Neiȝe hand: Deluelin hiȝt þe toun. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints iii. (Andrew) 253 He met men bringand of þe sted a ȝonge man, þat wes ded. c1400Destr. Troy 9712 His body to britton, & his burgh take; All his stid to distroy, and his stith holdis. 1577Harrison 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. 1533St. Papers Hen. VIII, I. 414 The Cytees of Lubeke, Danske, Hamburgh, Bromeswyke, and all other the Stedes of the Haunse Tutonyk. 1552in Acts Privy Counc. (N.S.) IV. 141 The Merchauntes of the Steedes, commonly called the Merchauntes of the Stilliarde. 1557Ibid. 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. 1558Ibid. 315 The returne home into their cuntreys of the lxxvj hulkes of the Steades presently at Portesmouthe. 1558Gresham 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.
c1000Sax. Leechd. I. 74 Lecge on ðone stede þe se spring on ᵹesittan wolde. a1225Ancr. R. 136 Bihold ofte þeron [the crucifix], & cus þe wunde studen. c1300Seyn Julian 57 (Ashm. MS.) Fram þe necke to þe fot ech stude it þoruȝ soutȝe. a1375Joseph Arim. 578 [He] wolde ha striken Seraphe at a stude derne, vppon an hole of his helm. c1440Pallad. on Husb. i. 204 Thy vyne in oon stede alway, thou ne bynde. 1470–85Malory Arthur vii. xii. 230 Thus they fought two houres..& in many stedys they were wounded.
b. Sc. A mark, imprint, vestige. Chiefly pl.
1513Douglas æneis iii. iv. 71 The pray half ettin behind thame lat thay ly, With fute steidis vile and laith to se. 1596Dalrymple 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. 1710Ruddiman 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. 1826Galt Last of Lairds iv. 32 He nippit my twa lugs till he eft the stedt o' his fingers as plainly upon them as [etc.]. 1896Crockett 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.
c888ælfred Boeth. xxxiii. §5 Ac þæs fyres aᵹen stede is ofer eallum woruldᵹesceaftum ᵹesewenlicum. c1250Gen. & Ex. 117 God bi-quuad watres here stede. c1384Chaucer H. Fame 731 Thou wost..That euery kyndely thynge that is Hath a kyndely stede ther he May best in hyt conserued be. c1450Mirk's Festial 2 The fyrst day, as Saynt Jerom sayth, þe see schall aryse vp yn hyr styd. 1887Morris 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.
c960Rule St. Benet xliii. 68 (Schröer) Ne stande he on chore on his stede and endebyrdnesse, ac stande he ealra ytemest. 1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1418 Þe soþe myght y neuer wytte, who shuld yn þo stedys sytte. c1400Love Bonavent. Mirr. (1907) 106 Sitte and take thy stede in the lowest place. c1400Gamelyn 851 Whan Gamelyn was i-set in the justices stede. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. ix. 41 The souldier may not moue from watchfull sted, Nor leaue his stand, vntill his Captaine bed. 1633P. Fletcher Purple Isl. vii. iii, Where glorious Cities stood,..There shrieching Satyres fill the peoples emptie steads. 1751G. 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.
c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 5085 He did sette in wardes [v.r. stedes] seers, Knyghte to wachem, & squiers. 1577Holinshed 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. 1627Drayton 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.
1338R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 247 Þe dettes þat men þam auht, þer stedes & þer wonyng, Wer taxed. 1452in 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. 1487Exch. Rolls Scot. IX. 470 note, All and hale our stedis of Catslak [etc.] with aucht hundreith scheip..apon the said stedis. 1508Kennedie Flyting w. Dunbar 365 Thow has a tome purs, I haue stedis and takkis. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 532 And mony ane out of his awin hous chaist, And mony sted wnpleneist lyand waist. 1579Spenser Sheph. Cal. May 43 Thilke same bene shepeheards for the Deuils stedde. 1594–5Durham Wills (Surtees) II. 255 A farme or stead, worthe 20 l. 1825Brockett N.C. Gloss., Stead, Sted, Stid, a place, a farm house and offices. 1887Stokes tr. Tripartite Life of Patrick 139 On the water is a stead, Buale Patraic (‘Patrick's Byre’) is its name. 1889Rider 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.)
1246–68Cockersand Chartul. (Chetham) III. i. 843 Quamdam partem terræ in Caton jacentem subtus le Walkemilnestude infra has divisas, scilicet [etc.]. 1534Munim. de Melros (Bannatyne Club) 629 Giff it sall happyn ws..till byg..ane walk myll on þe said myll sted within þe saidis landis. 1546Yorkshire Chantry Surv. (Surtees) 181 A barne stede j garden stede. 1610Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 80 Lie teind-barne et teind-barne yaird, cum lie peithous-steid. 1634Ibid. 103, 2 terras husb. et 3 terras cott. et lie grasteid. 1773East Cottingwith Incl. Act 7 Messuage steads and cottage steads. 1894R. 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.
a1400–50Bk. Curtasye 517 in Babees Bk., Þen..the vssher..Brynges hym in bed where he shalle wynke; In strong styd on palet he lay. 1625Quarles Sion's Sonn. xi. iii, The Bridall bed of Princely Solomon,..Was but of Cedar; and her Sted of gold. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 726 With Wars and Taxes others waste their own,..To loll on Couches, rich with Cytron steds. 1799E. Du Bois Piece Family Biog. III. 102 The valance or curtain that hangs round the tester and stead of the bed. 1858Simmonds 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.c1200Vices & Virtues 95 Ðe faste hope hafð hire stede up an heih. 1395Hylton 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. c1412Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 3403 Wengeance, in þis good lord, hadde no stide.
b.c1200Ormin 10101 Hiss spell toc mikell stĕde i þa Þatt herrdenn whatt he seȝȝde. a1300Cursor 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. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxviii. (Margaret) 91 Ȝet, þo scho wes in pouir stede & nocht with hyr fadir cane be fede, nocht-þane [etc.]. 1596Spenser F.Q. v. xii. 23 With the souse thereof full sore aghast, He staggered to and fro in doubtfull sted.
d.1596Spenser 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.c1175Lamb. Hom. 73 On oðer stude of rihte ileue spec þe apostle and seið..Inpossibile [etc.]. a1200Vices & Virtues 81 An oðer stede he seið, godd: Ve qui ridetis [etc.]. a1225Ancr. R. 144 Vor wecche is ine holi write i monie studen ipreised. Ibid. 410, I-writen on oðer stude. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xiv. 131 As dauid seith in þe sauter..; And in an other stede also velud [etc.]. 1390Gower Conf. II. 264 Ful many an other thing sche dede, Which is noght writen in this stede. c1520M. 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. 1557Card. 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.c1370Lay 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.
c1000ælfric Hom. in Sweet Sel. Hom. ælfr. 9 Þu ᵹeearnast..þone stede þe se deofol of afeoll þurh unᵹehyrsumnysse. c1205Lay. 239 Asscanius þe kene þe wes i kinges stude four & þritti winter he heold þat lond. a1225Leg. Kath. 3 Constantin & Maxence weren, on ane time, as in keiseres stude hehest i Rome. a1300Fall & 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. c1450in Aungier Syon (1840) 363 When..any is absente, they that be present schal fulfylle ther stedes. c1600in 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.
c1450Godstow 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.
1558Bp. Watson Sev. Sacram. iii. 13 Martyrdome..dothe supplye the steede of Babtysme,..when onely necessitie..excludeth the Sacrament. 1601Daniel Civ. Wars vii. lviii, Conducting their fresh troupes against their King (Who leaves a woman to supply his steed). 1611W. Sclater Key (1629) 244 Suffering sometimes doth the steed of baptisme. 1837C. Lofft Self-form. I. 199 They may serve the stead of presence of mind, to a certain point at least. 1888Goode 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)c1250Gen. & Ex. 425 Ðan bor ghe seht in ðe stede Of caym ðat abel for-dede. 1558Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) 481 Mr. Thomas Fynen is elected Alderman in the styde of Mr. John Nangle. 1784Acts & 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. 1786W. Thomson Watson's Philip III (1839) 255 Matthias II. being raised to the imperial throne in the stead of his deceased brother.
(b)c1380Wyclif 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)c1400Apol. Loll. 6 Þat þe peple..worschip not..þe fend in þe sted of Crist. 1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. xviii. 146, I putte lateyn in the stydde of Englyshe. 1460–70Bk. Quintessence ii. 16 If ȝe haue non preparate redy..þanne take in þe stide þerof fyn brennynge watir. 1544Betham 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. 1654R. Codrington tr. Justine xx. 289 They brought home comfort to their distressed Army in the stead of help. 1734Watts Reliq. Juv. (1789) 35 Sometimes they shew a painted idol in the stead of him [God].
(d)a1761Law 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. 1874Green Short Hist. x. §3. 775 A Constitution..was accepted by Lewis the Sixteenth in the stead of his old despotic power.
(e)1596Spenser 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. 1839De 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)c1320Seuyn Sag. (W.) 1207 Thai sschal..Put the out of thi kinges sete, And sette him stede inne thine. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. v. 39 Leste þe kyng and his Counseil ȝor Comunes apeire, And beo stiward in oure stude. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints Prol. 161 Mathias wes chosin in his stede. c1400Rom. Rose 4862 Whanne fader or moder arn in grave, Hir children shulde..Ful diligent ben, in her steede. 1603Owen Pembrokeshire ii. (1891) 31 Chancerye and Eschequer were cleene abolished..and newe Courtes errected in theire steedes by the saied Statute. 1696Churchw. Acc. Pittington, etc. (Surtees) 260 A new saxton to be chosen in his roome or steed.
(b)c1400Rule St. Benet (Prose) lxiii. 41 Þabbesse, for sho es in godis stede, sal be callid ‘dame’. 1417in Proc. Privy Council (1834) II. 238 Charjng the captens and cunstables to take other in hor styddes. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xliii. 27 Send in ȝour steid, Ȝour ladeis grathit vp gay. 1560Bible (Geneva) Gen. xxx. 2 Am I in Gods stede, which hathe withholden from thee the frute of the wombe? 1577Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist., Socrates ii. xxxi. 288 In their steede which were absent, their readers and Deacons subscribed. a1629Hinde J. Bruen vii. (1641) 24 Acknowledging that he was unto him in Gods stead.
(c)1590Greene 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. 1612R. Coverte Voy. 5 Which sheepe we tooke with vs and left sixe beasts or bullocks in their steads. 1676Hale Contempl. i. 109 Thou..wert willing to put thy soul in our souls stead. 1728Pope Dunc. i. 180 Or quite unravel all the reas'ning thread, And hang some curious cobweb in its stead. 1774Chesterfield Lett. I. viii. 21 Diana put a hind in her [Iphigeneia's] stead. 1823Scott Peveril xlix, Zarah..admitted that she had deranged the project.., by placing the dwarf in her own stead.
(d)c1230Hali Meid. 10 For under weole, i wunnes stude þu hauest her ofte helle. 1589Puttenham 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. 1735Pope Prol. Sat. 304 A lash like mine no honest man shall dread, But all such babbling blockheads in his stead. 1784Cowper Task iii. 769 Down falls the venerable pile... Springs a palace in its stead But in a distant spot. 1813Scott Rokeby i. iii, Terror reigns in sorrow's stead. 1852H. Rogers Eclipse of Faith (1862) 210 Each seemed to substitute in its stead something he liked better. 1856Longfellow Golden Leg. 11, Gottlieb. Or unless Some maiden..Offers her life for that of her lord, And is willing to die in his stead. 1871C. 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.
1430–40Lydg. 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. 1612R. 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. 1791Nairne Poems 131 And backwards, 'sted of forwards, walk. 1818Scott Br. Lamm. ix, Or if, stead o' that, ye wad but dine wi' them at the change-house. 1903K. 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. 1916G. 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. 1939Joyce 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. 1971Black World Oct. 62/1 The sweet-potato bread was a dollar quarter this time stead of dollar regular. 1978J. 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.
c1450Holland Howlat 777 He couth cary the cowpe of the kingis dess, Syne leve in the sted Bot a blak bunwed. 1567Gude & Godlie Ball. 145 All Ire and malice thow put vs fra, Thy seruandis gouerne in the steid. 1615Heywood 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. 1708Swift 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.
c1350Will. 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.
a1300[see stand v. 48]. c1425tr. 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. 1513Douglas æneis x. vi. 61 The giltyn mailȝeis makis hym na steyd, For in the coist he tholis dynt of deyd. 1524Reg. 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. 1524St. Papers Hen. VIII, IV. 112 To rendre all hert, lefull service, steide, and pleasure, that lyeth in our power. 1524Wolsey Ibid. IV. 139 [They] may and shal do grete stede in advertising the Kinges Grace from tyme to tyme..of the procedinges. 1542Ibid. XI. 272 And now last of all what a stede His Highnes entryng in to the warre was to Him. 1546Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 47 Thai ar contentit to do steid and service to the said Schir Neill. 1551Princess 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. 1625in 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. 1634Milton Comus 611 But here thy sword can do thee little stead. 1643Orkney 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. a1670Spalding Troub. Chas. I (Bannatyne Club) I. 294 And sic [beasts] as wold not call thay hocht and slew, that thay sould never mak steed. 1823E. Moor Suffolk Words, Stead, aid, assistance, usefulness. 1873Browning 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.
1601Holland 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]. 1678Trans. Crt. Spain 170 What stead would the Queens word then serve me in. 1680Burnet Rochester (1692) 46, I told him all his speculations of Philosophy would not serve him in any stead. 1712Arbuthnot 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.).
c1460Oseney Reg. 92 By þ⊇ vicare of Cudelynton or his *stedys beryng [orig. vel eius vices gerentem].
1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 111 Verray vicare and *stede haldare till our lord Jhesu Crist.
c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxi. (Clement) 647 Bot opunyonys ware sere, quhethyr þire twa papis were, or þe papis *sted-haldande.
1708J. C. Compl. Collier (1843) 37 The Banck's-Man..leads his *Stead-Horse away with the Loaden Corfe. 1894Northumb. Gloss. s.v. Steed, A ‘steed (or stead) horse’ is a horse employed upon a pit heap-steed.
1613R. C. Table Alph. (ed. 3), Steward, *steed-man, the keeper of the place. 1897F. S. Ellis Reynard 283 A farm in old speech was a stead, And to the stead-man's name oft wed.
1876Whitby Gloss., *Steeadsman, a substitute for another person.
1591H. Smith Prepar. Marriage 106 A stepmother dooth signifie a *stedmother, that is, one mother dyeth, and another commeth in her stead.
a1225Ancren R. 6 Non ancre bi mine read ne schal..bihoten..bute þreo þinges, þet is, obedience, chastete, & *studestaþeluestnesse.
1876Whitby 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.
c1175Lamb. 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. c1400Destr. Troy 4681 Þai with stode hom a stoure, but it stad litle. 1590Spenser F.Q. ii. ix. 9 Perhaps my succour, or aduizement meete Mote stead you much your purpose to subdew. 1591Shakes. 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. 1619Drayton Idea xv. Minor Poems (1907) 52 Since to obtaine thee nothing me will sted, I haue a Med'cine that shall cure my Loue. 1661Glanvill Van. Dogm. 31 The concession of which will only steed us as a Refuge for Ignorance. 1832Miss Mitford in T. A. Trollope What I Remember (1887) II. 339 Your answering these questions will stead me much. 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. I. iii. ix, It steads not the doomed man that he have interviews with the King. 1838Emerson Addr. Lit. Ethics Wks. (Bohn) II. 212 Translate, collate, distil all the systems, it steads you nothing. 1879E. 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.)
1594Daniel Compl. Rosamond (ed. 2) lxxxvii, All these teares you shed will nothing steed. 1598Sylvester Du Bartas ii. ii. iv. Columnes 236 Here-by, a Crane shall steed in building more Then hundred Porters' busie pains before. 1598R. 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. 1600Holland Livy ix. xxiv. 331 The place will steed you, I know. 1601Shakes. 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. 1608Topsell Serpents 273 It is cleere that they [spiders] were made to serue and stead vs to many excellent vses. 1623Whitbourne Newfoundland 54 Which fish is in all those parts in great request, and steeds them greatly. 1635J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Banish'd Virg. 79 Arrowes, speares, and javelings to steede them in occasions of boording. 1841Browning Pippa Passes iii. Poems (1905) 182 But guess not how the qualities required For such an office..Would little stead me, otherwise employed. 1891M. M. Dowie Girl in Karp. 254 No adjectives would stead me.
c. With subj. a person: To succour, help, render service to. Now rare.
1582T. Mathew in Nicolas Mem. Sir C. Hatton (1847) 300 Knowing how much you have steaded me therein from time to time. 1600Holland Livy xxii. xxxii. 452 If they could haue bethought themselues of any other meanes besides, wherein they might steed and befriend them. 1604Shakes. Oth. i. iii. 344, I could neuer better steed thee then now. 1611Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. Concl. §2 They [the Britons] steeded the Romanes in most of their Conquests. 1625W. 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. c1645Howell Lett. (1655) II. xxxiii. 44, I shall be glad to steed you in any thing that may tend to your advantage. 1818Scott Rob Roy xxiii, It's like I may pleasure you, and stead your father in his extremity. 1834Sir H. Taylor Artevelde ii. iii. ii, Alas! Would I could stead you more than with the prayers Of such a sinful creature! 1888G. 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.
1571Golding 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. 1603–26Breton Mad World (Grosart) 9/1 If in either my aduise or better meanes, I may stead your desire, you shall [etc.]. 1605A. Warren Poor Man's Pass. etc. E 4 b, So Competence Necessities may steede.
†e. To supply with something helpful. Also const. of. Obs.
1587Golding 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. 1592Babington Notes Gen. ii. 9 The great power of God to furnish and steede himselfe euer with meanes to effect his wyll. 1648Bp. 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.
1497Acc. 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. 1519Extracts 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. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 71 Victuall als to steid for fourtie dais. 1557Tusser 100 Points Husb. xix, Thy saffron plot..shal stede both thine own house, and next neighbour too.
g. dial. In passive: see quots.
1823E. Moor Suffolk Words, Stedded, suited—engaged. ‘I can't git no work—the farmers are all stedded.’ a1825Forby 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.
1563Winȝet 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. a1652Brome 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.
1603Shakes. 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.
a1300E.E. Psalter lxxxvii[i]. 8 Over me es þi wreth stedde [Vulg. confirmata]. a1300Cursor 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. c1325Poem temp. Edw. II (Percy) 6 Whan the ȝong persoun Is stedyd in hys cherch. 1340Hampole 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. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxxvi. (Baptist) 585 Þe quhilk sancte tecle with hir tuke,..& stedit it honorably in þe kirk of marytany. c1400Sc. Trojan War ii. 508 A brassynge horse..In whome may weille a thousande knyghtes Be steddede. c1400Sege 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. c1440York Myst. xvii. 28 That..stedde yone sterne to stand stone stille. a1450Bk. Curtasye 231 in Babees Bk., Ȝif þou be stad in strange contre, Enserche no fyr þen falles to the. 1473Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879) I 177 Ȝif tha thynk that tha ma sted tham bettyr in vthir placis tha sal haue our fre licens. 1500Caldwell Papers (Maitland Club) I. 52 The quhilk tenands ye said lord erle promitte to steid in uthir place. 1618W. Lawson Orch. & Gard. ix. (1623) 25 Stead them on the North side of your other Apples. 1821Keats 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.
c1470Henry 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.
c1425Non-Cycle Myst. Plays (1909) 47 Onto my warke I must me stede.
†c. To treat, deal with. Obs.
c1460J. 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.
a1300Cursor 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. c1375Sc. 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. c1440York Myst. xlviii. 289 In harde presse whan I was stedde, Of my paynes ȝe hadde pitee. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 5586 In sorow was he stadd. c1470Rauf Coilȝear 136 Sa troublit with stormis was I neuer stad. c1470Henry Wallace ix. 901 Sen we ar stad with enemys on ilk syd. c1480Henryson Test. Cress. 542 Now is my breist with stormie stoundis stad. 1535Stewart 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.
a1300Cursor M. 3470 Þe leuedi was ful ferli drad Als womman þat ful hard was stad. 1375Barbour 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. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints vii. (James Less) 650 Full hard in þat towne þai war sted. c1400Rowland & O. 1528 There were oure folkes full styffely stadde. a1440Sir Eglam. 459 Thou haste byn strongly stadd. c1440York Myst. xlv. 137 Men þat are stedde stiffely in stormes or in see. a1450? Lydg. To Sov. Lady 109 Therfore I love no labour that ye lese Whan, in longing, sorest ye be stadde. c1470What shall I do? 10 in Q. Eliz. Acad. 86 Thus am I sted ful heuely. a1500Ratis Raving i. 461 Quhen þow art stad ocht narowly With Irous wyll and gluttony. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 125 He circulit him sone efter at ane seig, Into ane place quhair he wes sted rycht herd. 16051st Pt. Jeronimo iii. ii. 91 O me, ill stead, valliant Rogero slaine. 1818Scott 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. c1420Avow. Arth. xliii. 13 The knyȝte stedit and stode. c1420Anturs of Arth. xxxii. 4 (Ireland MS.) Tell me..Quy thou stedis in that stid, and stondus so stille? c1440York Myst. xlvi. 94, I schall nott stedde in no stede but in stall and in strete. c1460Towneley Myst. vii. 206 For soth, my lord, I shall not sted till I haue theym theder led. c1500Sc. 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.
1609Ev. 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. |