Emily Dickinson Lexicon

STEAD, or STED, n.¹ [Goth. stads; Sax. and Dan. sted; G. statt; D. stede. See Stay.]

1. Place; in general. Fly this fearful stead. – Spenser. [In this sense not used.]
2. Place or room which another had or might have, noting substitution, replacing or filling the place of another; as, David died and Solomon reigned in his stead. God hath appointed me another seed in stead of Abel, whom Cain slew. – Gen. iv.
3. The frame on which a bed is laid. Swallow the feet, the borders and the stead. – Dryden. [But we never use this word by itself in this sense. We always use bedstead.] To stand in stead, to be of use or great advantage. The smallest act of charity shall stand us in great stead. – Atterbury.