I.best, noblest, bravest, Il.; βουλῆι, ἔγχεσιν ἄριστος Hom.; εἶδος ἄριστος Il.:—c. inf. ἄριστοι μάχεσθαι Xen.; ἄρ. διαβολὰς ἐνδέκεσθαι readiest to give ear to calumnies, Hdt.; ἄρ. ἀπατᾶσθαι best, i. e. easiest, to cheat, Thuc.
2.best, most virtuous, Eur.
II.of animals and things, best, finest, Hom.
III.neut. pl. as adv. ἄριστα, best, most excellently, id=Hom., Hdt.