ἀριστεύω

A. to be best or bravest, αἰὲν ἀριστεύειν καὶ ὑπείροχον ἔμμεναι ἄλλων Il. 6.208; ὃς δέ κ’ ἀριστεύῃσι μάχῃ ἔνι 11.409; ἐν ἀέθλοισιν ἀ. Pi. N. 11.14; gain the prize for valour (v. ἀριστεῖα, τά), gain the highest distinction, Hdt. 3.55, 9.105, Pl. R. 468b, Isoc. 9.16.

2. c. gen., ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι Τρώων he was the best of the Trojans . . , Il. 6.460, cf. Hdt. 5.112, 7.106, al.; οὕνεκα βουλῇ ἀριστεύεσκεν ἁπάντων Il. 11.627, cf. Pi. N. 10.10.

3. c. inf., ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι he was best at fighting, Il. 16.292,551, etc.; ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι Τρώων, v. supr.

4. c.acc.rei, ἀ. τι to be best in a thing, στάδιον Pi. O. 10(11).64, cf. 13.43; ἰάλεμον Theoc. 15.98.

5. c. acc. cogn., win as ἀριστεῖα, τὰ πρῶτα καλλιστεῖ’ ἀριστεύσας S. Aj. 435, cf. 1300; πάντα ἀ. Id. Tr. 488, Pl. R. 540a; μεμιγμένην ἀριστείαν ἀ. Plu. Pel. 34.

II. of things, to be best, ἀριστεύοισαν εὐκάρπου χθονός best of all lands on fruitful earth, Pi. N. 1.14; τὸ κηδεῦσαι καθ’ ἑαυτὸν ἀριστεύει μακρῷ A. Pr. 890 (lyr.); of an opinion, prevail, Hdt. 7.144.