κρᾰτιστ-ος, η, ον,
Epic dialect κάρτ- (as always in [[ 8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus), isolated Superl. from κρατύς] Refs 8th c.BC+], strongest, mightiest, [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.266, etc.; θεῶν κ., i.e. Zeus. 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 14.13; κ. Ἑλλήνων, i.e. Achilles, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ph.” 3: in Prose, εἰ τοὺς κ. ἐνικήσαμεν 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 7.67 ] Refs 8th c.BC+]; Λημνίων τὸ κ. the best of their men, [[ [prev\. author] 5.8; τὸ δυνάμεως κ.] Refs] the strength or flower of.., [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Cyr.” 6.1.28 ] Refs 5th c.BC+], etc.; of things, καρτίστην.. μάχην fiercest fight, [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 6.185; δεσμὸς κ. Ti.Locrian dialect 99a ] Refs 8th c.BC+].
__2 generally, best, most excellent, as superlative of ἀγαθός, [[ 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “I.” 1.17, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ant.” 1050, etc.: colloquially, ἄνδρα κ. εἰπών Theophrastus Philosophus [{4-3rd c.BC}] “Characteres” 5.2 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ κράτιστοι the aristocracy, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “HG” 7.1.42, see at {ἀγαθός} 1; τὰ κ. τῆς χώρας [prev. work] 3.4.20. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]
__2.b as a title or mode of address, [[ κράτιστε Θεόφιλε NT.Luke.1.3 ] NT]; especially = Latin egregius, [[ ὁ κ. ἡγεμών “PFay.” p.33 (1st c.AD); ὁ κ. ἐπίτροπος “BGU” 891 (2nd c.AD); ἡ κ.] Refs 1st c.AD+], of a woman of the equester ordo, [[ Inscriptiones Graecae 14. 1346; also, =] Refs] Latin clarissimus, of Senators, ὁ κ. ἀνθὐπατος [[[prev. work]9(1).61; ὁ κ. συγκλητικός “IGRom.” 3.581, etc.; ἡ κ. βουλή “POxy.” 2108.6 (3rd c.AD). ] Refs 3rd c.AD+]