κρᾰ́τιστ-ος,η,ον, Ep.
κάρτ-(as always in Hom. ), isolated Superl. fromκρατύς,
A. strongest, mightiest, Il. 1.266 , etc.;θεῶν κ., i.e. Zeus. Pi. O. 14.13 ;κ. Ἑλλήνων, i.e. Achilles, S. Ph. 3 : in Prose, εἰ τοὺς κ. ἐνικήσαμεν
Th. 7.67
;Λημνίων τὸ κ. the bestof their men, Id. 5.8 ;τὸ δυνάμεως κ. the strengthorflowerof . . , X. Cyr. 6.1.28 , etc.; of things,καρτίστην . . μάχην fiercestfight, Il. 6.185 ; δεσμὸς κ.
Ti.Locr. 99a
.
2. generally,best, most excellent, as Sup. of
ἀγαθός, Pi. I. 1.17 , S. Ant. 1050 , etc.: colloquially, " ἄνδρα κ." εἰπών
Thphr. Char. 5.2
;οἱ κράτιστοι the aristocracy, X. HG 7.1.42 , v. ἀγαθός
1 ;τὰ κ. τῆς χώραςib. 3.4.20 .
b. as a title or mode of address, κράτιστε Θεόφιλε
Ev.Luc. 1.3