stead

Stead is a noun meaning a place, position, or role. It is most commonly encountered in fixed phrases such as in his stead or in her stead, meaning in place of that person or as a substitute. Historically, stead could refer to a physical site, a post, or a duty entrusted to someone else.

Etymology: The word comes from Old English sted, stede meaning place or locality, and is related to Dutch sted and German Stätte, both meaning place. The modern sense is preserved in compounds like steadfast and in the idiom in someone’s stead; the form instead originated from the same phrase.

Usage: In modern English, stead is chiefly found in formal, literary, or historical registers. In everyday language, speakers usually use substitutes such as place, position, or in someone’s place. The phrase in his stead remains idiomatic and is used to indicate substitution in contexts ranging from legal to narrative.

Related notes: Stead appears most prominently in archaic or elevated prose, though the concept remains common in English through phrases like in someone’s stead. Related terms include steadfast (firm or loyal), homestead (a dwelling and its land), and the general idea of a substitute or place.