insteadINSTEAD, insted'. [a compound of in and stead, place; but stead retains its character of a noun, and is followed by of; instead of, in the same manner as in the stead of.] In the place or room of. This consideration is instead of a thousand arguments. In this use, instead may be equivalent to equal to. When instead is used without of following, there is an ellipsis, or some words are understood. |