[stead] n [ME stede, fr. OE; akin to OHG stat place, OE standan to stand--more at stand] (bef. 12c) 1 obs: locality, place
2: advantage--used chiefly in the phrase to stand one in good stead
3: the office, place, or function ordinarily occupied or carried out by someone or something else "acted in his brother's ~"
[2]stead vt (13c): to be of avail to: help