ἄριστον

A. morning meal, breakfast, twice in Hom., ἐντύνοντ’ ἄ. ἅμ’ ἠοῖ Od. 16.2, cf. Il. 24.124; ἄριστα, δεῖπνα, δόρπα θ’ αἱρεῖσθαι τρίτα A. Fr. 182, cf. Ag. 331: later, breakfast was called ἀκράτισμα, and ἄριστον was the midday meal, our luncheon, cf. Th. 4.90, 7.81; ἄ. αἱρεῖσθαι, ποιεῖσθαι, Hdt. 3.26, 6.78; ἀπ’ ἀρίστου μέχρι δείλης Arist. HA 619a15. [α; contr. from α(y)ερι‐στον, cf. Goth. air, OHG. ēr 'early', Avest. ayar[schwa] 'day'; also α(y)ερ- in ἦρι, ἠέριος; ‐στο‐ from -d-to-, root ed- 'eat'.]