ἐλάχιστος

English (LSJ)

[ᾰ], η, ον, Sup. of ἐλαχύς: Comp. ἐλάσσων (q.v.):—

   A smallest, least, freq. with a neg., γέρας, δύναμις οὐκ ἐ., h.Merc.573, Hdt.7.168, etc.; λόγου ἐλαχίστου of least account, Id.1.143; ἐλαχίστου ἐδέησε διαφθεῖραι narrowly missed destroying them, Th.2.77; περὶ ἐλαχίστου ποιεῖσθαι Pl. Ap.30a; παρ' ἐλάχιστον ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς ἀφαιρεθῆναι D.17.22.    2 of Time, shortest, δι' ἐλαχίστου (sc. χρόνου) Th.3.39; δι' ἐλαχίστης βουλῆς with shortest deliberation, Id.1.138.    3 of Number, fewest, Pl.R.378a; ἐ. τὸν ἀριθμόν Arist.Pol.1312a30; ἐν ἐλαχίστοις δυσίν between two at least. Id.EN1131a15.    4 Math., ἐλάχιστα καὶ μέγιστα minima and maxima, Apollon.Perg.Con.1 Praef.    II τὸ ἐλάχιστον, τοὐλάχιστον, at the least, Hdt.2.13, X.An.5.7.8, D.4.21; ἐλάχιστα least of any one, Th.1.70; ὡς ἐ. as little as possible, Pl.Phd. 63d.    III from ἐλάχιστος came a new Comp. ἐλαχιστότερος less than the least, ἐ. πάντων ἁγίων Ep.Eph.3.8: Sup. ἐλαχιστότατος very least of all, S.E.M.3.54, 9.406.