stead /sted/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: stede 'place' ]
1 . do something in sb’s stead formal to do something that someone else usually does or was going to do:
Pearson was appointed to go in Harrison’s stead.
2 . stand/serve/hold somebody in good stead to be very useful to someone when needed:
His years of training were standing him in good stead.