In-stĕad′, adv.

(in-stĕd′), adv. [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 expression in the stead of.]

1Sense 1. In the place or room; — followed by of.

Let thistles grow instead of wheat. Job xxxi. 40.

Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab. 2 Sam. xvii. 25.

2Sense 2. Equivalent to; equal to.

This very consideration to a wise man is instead of a thousand arguments, to satisfy him, that in those times no such thing was believed. Tillotson.