ἄριστος Ancient Greek · revision 3187

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=Homer, Iliad}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /á.ris.tos/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /ˈa.ris.tos/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈa.ris.tos/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ᾰ̓́ρῐστος''' (áristos) ''m'' (feminine ᾰ̓ρῐ́στη, neuter ᾰ̓́ρῐστον); first/second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a primary superlative belonging to the comparative [[ἀρείων|tr=areíōn|t=better]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(DGE) Frisk relates it in the first place to the prefix [[ἀρι-|tr=ari-|t=very]] and to [[ἀρετή|tr=aretḗ|t=excellence]].^(Frisk 1960) Beekes finds the link with the prefix improbable and suggests a connection with [[ἀραρίσκω|tr=ararískō|t=to fit, join]], so that it would mean “the fittest”, which Frisk thought hypothetical.^(Frisk 1960)^(Beekes 2010) Wiktionary reconstructs [[ine-pro|*h₂éristos|t=fittest]], from [[ine-pro|*h₂er-|t=to fit]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ A Byzantine etymological dictionary derived it from [[Ἄρης|tr=Árēs]], as “the one strong in battle”.^(Etygram)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Iliad'' it is the best in war and the foremost among men, such as “the best of the Achaeans”, and in the plural the chiefs.^(Cunliffe 1924)^(LSJ 1940) a god is called “highest and best of the gods”.^(Cunliffe 1924)^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It serves as the superlative of [[ἀγαθός|tr=agathós|t=good]], “best” in every sense: best in ability, strength or skill, bravest, best in rank or birth, “noblest”, best in character or beauty, and of things the best of their kind.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)^(Wiktionary) Herodotus opposes the company of “the best men” to the people, the origin of the political term [[ἀριστοκρατία|tr=aristokratía]].^(LSJ 1940) Plato often has the ironic address ''ὦ ἄριστε'', “my good friend”.^(CGL 2021) It was also the first element of many personal names, such as ''Ἀρίστων''.^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ Its derivatives include [[ἀριστεύω|tr=aristeúō|t=to be the best]], [[ἀριστεύς|tr=aristeús|t=chieftain]] and [[ἀριστεία|tr=aristeía|t=deed of valour]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) Modern Greek [[m|el|άριστος|tr=áristos]] is a learned word for “excellent, best”.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Homer – The ''Iliad'' uses it for the best warriors and the chiefs.^(Cunliffe 1924)^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus contrasts the best men with the people.^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 5th–4th century BC – Plato uses ''ὦ ἄριστε'' as a polite or ironic address.^(CGL 2021)

+ * 9th century AD – A Byzantine etymological dictionary derives it from Ares.^(Etygram)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|best]]; superlative of [[ἀγαθός|tr=agathós]].^(LSJ 1940)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Best in ability or strength; bravest.^(CGL 2021)^(Cunliffe 1924)

+ # Best in birth and rank, [[m|en|noblest]], or ''(plural, as a noun)'' the chiefs, the nobles.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # Best in character or beauty.^(CGL 2021)

+ # Best of its kind, of things.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # ''(vocative, ὦ ἄριστε)'' My good friend.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ἀριστεύς|tr=aristeús]]

+ * [[ἀριστεύω|tr=aristeúō]]

+ * [[ὤριστος|tr=ṓristos]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ἀρείων|tr=areíōn]]

+ * [[ἀρετή|tr=aretḗ]]

+ * [[ἀριστοκρατία|tr=aristokratía]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}