ἄριστος

English (LSJ)

[ᾰ], η, ον, (with Art. Ep.

   A ὤριστος Il.11.288, Att. ἅριστος) best in its kind, and so in all sorts of relations, serving as Sup. of ἀγαθός:    I of persons,    1 best in birth and rank, noblest: hence, like ἀριστεύς, a chief, Ἀργείων οἱ ἄριστοι Il.4.260, cf. 6.209; ἄ. ἔην πολὺ δὲ πλείστους ἄγε λαούς 2.580; θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄ. 19.258; πατρὸς πάντων ἀ. παῖδα S.El.366; ἀνδρῶν τῶν ἀ. ὁμιλίη, opp. δῆμος, Hdt.3.81, cf. Cic.Att.9.4.2.    2 best in any way, bravest, ἀνδρῶν αὖ μέγ' ἄ. ἔην Τελαμώνιος Αἴας Il.2.768, cf. 7.50, etc.; οἰωνοπόλων, σκυτοτόμων ὄχ' ἄ., 6.76, 7.221.    b c. dat. modi, βουλῇ μετὰ πάντας . . ἔπλευ ἄ. 9.54, al.; ἔγχεσιν εἶναι ἀρίστους Od.4.211.    c c. acc. rei, εἶδος ἄριστε Il.3.39; ψυχὴν ἄ. Ar.Nu.1048.    d c. inf., ἄριστοι μάχεσθαι X.Cyr.5.4.44; ἄ. διαβολὰς ἐνδέκεσθαι readiest to give ear to calumnies, Hdt.3.80; ἄ. ἀπατᾶσθαι best, i.e. easiest, to cheat, Th.3.38.    3 morally best, εἴς τινα E.Alc.83(lyr.); οἱ ἄ. ἁπλῶς κατ' ἀρετήν Arist.Pol.1293b3.    4 best, most useful, πόλει E.Fr.194 codd. (leg. ἀρεστός) αὑτῷ Id.Heracl.5.    II of animals, things, etc., best, finest, ἵπποι Il.2.763; μήλων, ὑῶν, Od.9.432, 14.414; τεύχε' ἄριστα Il.15.616; χῶρος Od.5.442; ποταμῶν ἄ. τά τε ἄλλα καὶ ἀκέσασθαι Hdt.4.90; ἄριστα φέρεσθαι win an excellent reward, S.El.1097 (lyr.).    III neut. pl. as Adv., ἄριστα best, most excellently, ὄχ' ἄ. Il.3.110, Od.13.365, cf. Hdt.1.193, al., etc.; ἄριστά γε, in answers, well said! Pl.Tht.163c: later also ἀρίστως Iamb.Myst.3.14.