Instead

• POS: Adverb
• HYPHEN: in=stead

CIDE DICTIONARY

Instead, adv. [Pref. in- + stead place.].

•  In the place or room; -- usually followed by of.  [1913 Webster]

  "Let thistles grow of wheat."  [1913 Webster]

  "Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab."  [1913 Webster]
•  Equivalent; equal to; -- usually with of.  [1913 Webster]

  "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."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Instead, adv.
1 (foll. by of) as a substitute or alternative to; in place of (instead of this one; stayed instead of going).
2 as an alternative (took me instead) (cf. STEAD).

Etymology

ME, f. IN + STEAD

ROGET THESAURUS

Instead

Substitution

N substitution, commutation, supplanting, metaphor, metonymy, substitute, ersatz, makeshift, temporary expedient, replacement, succedaneum, shift, pis aller, stopgap, jury rigging, jury mast, locum tenens, warming pan, dummy, scapegoat, double, changeling, quid pro quo, alternative, representative, palimpsest, price, purchase money, consideration, equivalent, substituted, ersatz, phony, vicarious, subdititious, instead, in place of, in lieu of, in the stead of, in the room of, faute de mieux.