From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
instead
adv 1: in place of, or as an alternative to; "Felix became a
herpetologist instead"; "alternatively we could buy a
used car" [syn: alternatively, instead, or else]
2: on the contrary; "rather than disappoint the children, he did
two quick tricks before he left"; "he didn't call; rather (or
instead), he wrote her a letter"; "used English terms instead
of Latin ones" [syn: rather, instead]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Instead \In*stead"\, adv. [Pref. in- + stead place.]
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1. In the place or room; -- usually followed by of.
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Let thistles grow of wheat. --Job xxxi.
40.
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Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of
Joab. --2 Sam. xvii.
25.
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2. Equivalent; equal to; -- usually with of. [R.]
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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.
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