Dictionary

instead

Webster 1828

INSTEAD, 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.Let thistles grow instead of wheat. Job 31:40.Absalom made Amasa captain of the hose instead of Joab.2 Samuel 17:25.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