Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Instead
In-stead′
,adv.
[Pref.
in-
+ stead
place.] 1.
In the place or room; – usually followed by of.
Let thistles grow of wheat.
Job xxxi. 40.
Absalom made Amasa captain of the host
instead
of Joab. 2 Sam. xvii. 25.
2.
Equivalent; equal to; – usually with of.
[R.]
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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Instead
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.
Absalom made Amasa captain of the hose instead of Joab. 2 Sam.17.
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.