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ἄριστον

áriston

G712 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Principal daily meal; originally, the morning or midday meal, typically eaten after the early work of the day was completed. In Koine Greek usage, refers to a meal taken before mid-afternoon, usually corresponding to what might be called 'breakfast' or 'brunch,' but often more substantial—akin to a midday meal or luncheon. Rarely, by extension or in later contexts, any principal meal not taken in the evening.

Semantic Range

morning meal, midday meal, principal daily meal, luncheon, (less often) any main meal not in the evening

Root / Etymology

From the Greek adjective ἄριστος ('best, excellent'); possibly connected to the idea of the 'best' or principal meal of the day; no secure etymological connection to ἄῤῥην ('male') despite similarity in form; the connection to 'early' in Strong's gloss is folk etymology and not established in linguistic evidence.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἄριστον referred to the first main meal of the day, typically eaten in the late morning to early noon hours, after the first tasks or labor were completed (cf. Xenophon, Plato). The evening meal was called δεῖπνον; ἄριστον is thus distinct, denoting the earlier meal, whereas δεῖπνον came to represent what modern contexts would call 'dinner' (the principal evening meal). In the New Testament and other Koine literature, the time and importance of ἄριστον could vary, but it generally remained the meal taken before mid-afternoon, not the nighttime repast. English translations ('dinner') can be misleading, as meal times and their significance have shifted historically. There is no suggestion in Greek sources that ἄριστον refers exclusively to an opulent meal; its 'best' connotation within the superlative adjective ἄριστος is more likely a traditional term for the central daytime meal, not an index of social status or extravagance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently neuter of a superlative from the same as ἄῤῥην; the best meal (or breakfast; perhaps from ("early")), i.e. luncheon:--dinner.

Root Family

ἄριστον (ariston) — best, principal, main (meal)

Root ἄριστ- best, principal, main (with reference to meal)

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G712-01 ἄριστόν ariston N ACC N SG dinner the principal meal main meal 2
G712-02 ἀρίστου aristou N GEN N SG dinner of the principal meal principal meal 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G712-01 Matthew 22:4 ἄριστόν ariston N ACC N SG dinner the principal meal main meal
G712-02 Luke 11:38 ἀρίστου aristou N GEN N SG dinner of the principal meal principal meal
G712-01 Luke 14:12 ἄριστον ariston N ACC N SG luncheon the principal meal the principal meal
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