stead

Etymology 1

From Middle English sted, stede (noun) and steden (verb), from Old English stede, from Proto-Germanic *stadiz, from Proto-Indo-European *stéh₂tis. cognates and related terms Cognate with German Stadt, Statt and Stätte, Gothic 𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌸𐍃 (staþs, “place”), Danish and Swedish stad, Norwegian Bokmål sted, Scots steid, West Frisian stêd, Saterland Frisian Stääd and Steede, Dutch stad, Yiddish שטאָט (shtot). See the doublet stasis.

noun

1. (obsolete) A place, or spot, in general.
2. (obsolete) A place where a person normally rests; a seat.
   There now the hart, fearlesse of greyhound, feeds, / And loving pelican in safety breeds; / There shrieking satyres fill the people's emptie steads. 1633, P. Fletcher, Purple Island
3. (obsolete) An inhabited place; a settlement, city, town etc.
4. (obsolete) An estate, a property with its grounds; a farm; a homestead.
   But of course I could not do this by myself, so I took a Hottentot—a very clever man when he was not drunk—who lived on the stead, into my confidence. 1889, H. Rider Haggard, Allan's Wife
5. (obsolete) The frame on which a bed is laid; a bedstead.
   The genial bed / Sallow the feet, the borders, and the stead. 1693, John Dryden, Baucis and Philemon
6. (in phrases, now literary) The position or function (of someone or something), as taken on by a successor.
   His nurse had told him all about changelings, and how the little people would always try to steal a beautiful human child out of its cradle and put in its stead one of their own ailing, puking brats […] 1961, Muriel Saint Clare Byrne, Elizabethan Life in Town and Country, page 285
   Had Daniel Ortega not got himself illegally on to this year’s ballot to seek a third term, his wife might have run in his stead. 31 March 2011, “Kin selection”, in The Economist
7. (figurative) An emotional or circumstantial "place" having specified advantages, qualities etc. (now only in phrases).
   Though small and delicate-looking, she gave an impression of intense earnestness and latent toughness, qualities that stood her in good stead when she dared to challenge the most intrusive communist society in eastern Europe. 19 September 2010, Dan van der Vat, The Guardian

verb

1. (obsolete) To help, support, benefit or assist; to be helpful.
2. (obsolete) To fill the stead or place of something.

Etymology 2

Clipping of steady.

noun

1. (Singapore, colloquial) One's partner in a romantic relationship.
   C'mon lah!! Wake up.. Y R U stupid girls so CHEAP!! Imagine a baby making out with an adult! Want to have stead,.. Go find 1 16yr old rich kid lah!! At for let those men take advantage!! Remember Men CANNOT be Trusted!! Boys maybe can. 05/27/1997, Ordinary People, soc.culture.singapore (Usenet)
   I prefer to know a guy better as a friend first before even considering him as a potential stead. 04/17/1998, L.Angel, soc.culture.singapore (Usenet)
   One of the best dates I had was with his person who did attempt to impress me with expensive gifts or flowers. My date did asked though but I said no because for somebody who's not my stead and I dun feel there was a need to. 02/13/1999, L.Angel, soc.culture.singapore (Usenet)
   after 2 week or so I decide to tell her I like her and asked her to be my stead. But she tell me she had another guy. So we remain as friend. 01/30/2004, Fann Low, soc.culture.singapore (Usenet)