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Stead vs Steady - What's the difference?

stead | steady |

As nouns the difference between stead and steady

is that stead is (label) a place, or spot, in general while steady is (informal) a regular customer.

As verbs the difference between stead and steady

is that stead is to help; to support; to benefit; to assist while steady is to stabilize something; to prevent from shaking.

As an adjective steady is

firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.

stead

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (label) A place, or spot, in general.
  • *1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faery Queene , II:
  • *:For he ne wonneth in one certaine stead , / But restlesse walketh all the world around.
  • (label) A place where a person normally rests; a seat.
  • *1633 , P. Fletcher, Purple Island :
  • *:There now the hart, fearlesse of greyhound, feeds, / And loving pelican in safety breeds; / There shrieking satyres fill the people's emptie steads .
  • (label) A specific place or point on a body or other surface.
  • *, Bk.VII:
  • *:Thus they fought two houres& in many stedys they were wounded.
  • (label) An inhabited place; a settlement, city, town etc.
  • (label) An estate, a property with its grounds; a farm.
  • *1889 , H. Rider Haggard, Allan's Wife :
  • *: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.
  • (label) The frame on which a bed is laid; a bedstead.
  • *(John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • *:The genial bed / Sallow the feet, the borders, and the stead .
  • *1818 , Jane Austen, Persuasion :
  • *:She was so wretched and so vehement, complained so much of injustice in being expected to go away instead of Anne; Anne, who was nothing to Louisa, while she was her sister, and had the best right to stay in Henrietta's stead !
  • *2011 , "Kin selection", The Economist , 31 March:
  • *: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 .
  • Figuratively, an emotional or circumstantial "place" having specified advantages, qualities etc. (now only in phrases).
  • *2010 , Dan van der Vat, The Guardian , 19 September:
  • *: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.

    • Derived terms

    * bedstead * homestead * in good stead * in one's stead * instead * sunstead * workstead

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To help; to support; to benefit; to assist.
  • * 1610 , , act 1 scene 2
    • Some food we had and some fresh water that / A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo, / Out of his charity,—who being then appointed / Master of this design,—did give us, with / Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries, / Which since have steaded much: [...]
  • To fill place of.

    • Anagrams

    * (l), (l), (l), (l), (l)

    steady

    English

    Alternative forms

    *

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.
  • :
  • *Sir (Philip Sidney) (1554-1586)
  • *:Their feet steady , their hands diligent, their eyes watchful, and their hearts resolute.
  • *
  • *:But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder. The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window,.
  • *
  • *:Captain Edward Carlisle, soldier as he was, martinet as he was, felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, her alluring smile?; he could not tell what this prisoner might do.
  • Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit; not fickle, changeable, or wavering; not easily moved or persuaded to alter a purpose; resolute.
  • :
  • Smooth and not bumpy or with obstructions.
  • :
  • Regular and even.
  • :
  • Slow.

    • Antonyms

    * unsteady

    Derived terms

    * go steady * going steady * * rock-steady * steadily * steadiness * steady as she goes * steady on * steady state

    Verb

  • To stabilize something; to prevent from shaking.

    • Noun

    (steadies)
  • (informal) A regular customer.
  • * 2013 , Sheila Foster, Soho Whore
    • Some of my steadies wanted me to go out with them on a date. Occasionally I let one of them take me to a film or out for a meal.

    External links

    * * *

    Anagrams

    *