Quick Definition
ἄριστον, ου, τό n.n. breakfast or a mid-day meal
Strong's Definition
apparently neuter of a superlative from the same as 730; the best meal (or breakfast; perhaps from eri ("early")), i.e. luncheon
KJV Usage: dinner
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, n. | -ου | ἀριστάω
23.22 · Physiological Processes and States · Eat, Drink
a meal, a banquet, a feast a meal whether simple or elaborate (this generic meaning of ἄριστον is in contrast with the more specific meaning of ἄριστον[b], 23.23) Though ἄριστον[a], δεῖπνον[a], and βρῶσις[b] are highly generic in this usage, it is not necessary to translate these terms by a corresponding generic term in another language, since a more specific term may fit the context more satisfactorily. In fact, a generic term might be quite inappropriate in that it would suggest in the case of MRK 6:21 that Herod was quite stingy in simply providing an ordinary meal for his officials.
23.23 · Physiological Processes and States · Eat, Drink
noon meal, lunch a less important meal, normally in the earlier or middle part of the day
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἄριστον, -ov, τό, [fr. Hom. down]; a. the first food, taken early in the morning before work, breakfast; dinner was called δεῖπνον. But the later Greeks called breakfast τὸ ἀκράτισμα, and dinner ἄμιστον i. 6. δεῖπνον μεσημβρινόν, Athen. 1, 9,10 p.11b.; and so in the Ν. Τὶ Hence Ὁ. dinner: Lk. xiv. 12 (ποιεῖν ἄριστον ἢ δεῖπνον, to which others are invited); Lk. xi. 38; Mt. xxii. 4 (ἑτοιμάζειν). [B. D.s.v. Meals; Becker’s Charicles, se. vi. excurs. i. (Eng. trans. p. 312 sq.).]
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἄριστον ariston 3x
pr. the first meal, breakfast; afterwards extended to signify also a slight mid-day meal, luncheon, Mt. 22:4; Lk. 11:38; 14:12*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἄριστον, -ου, τό,
[in LXX: III Ki 3:1 (לֶחֶם), To 2:1, 4, al.;]
1, prop., breakfast.
In late Gk. = cl. δεῖτνον, dinner: Mt 22:4, Lk 11:38 14:12.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἄριστον. P Oxy III. 51917 (ii/A.D.) παιδίοις ἀρίστου ὀβί(ολοὶ) > is presumably the account of a meal, which from the price was probably a light one! So 26. 1V.736*8 (c. A.D. 1) πράσων ἀρίστῳ γερδί(ου) (ὀβολός) ‘leeks for the weaver’s breakfast ” (Edd.). P Tebt I. 112 introd.?? (B.c. 112) ἀρίστου σὺν ᾿“Ἡλιοδώ(ρωι) ᾿Αθηί ) K, 26. 1τ688 (late ii/B.c.) σῦκα ἐπὶ ἀρίστου t. A more considerable meal seems intended in P Tebt I. 1208 (i/B.c.) els τὸ Ἰσιῆν τοῦ ἀρίστ[ο]υ te—it was a repast in the temple of Isis. 20. 121% (i/B.c.) ὄψου ἔπ᾽ ἀρίστῳ —. We have not noticed the verb ἀριστάω. GQXETOS. To the occurrences of this rare word we can now add BGU I. 33° (ii/iii A.D.) περὶ τῶν λοιπῶν] ἔργων σου ἀρκετὸς y[elvod. We seem to have the adverb in the mutilated conclusion of BGU II. 5314-24 (ii/a.p.) ἐὰν δὲ. ol | apkeros [ἔϊχηι [. .- . Vettius Valens, p. 304%, has καὶ ἣν ἀρκετὸν κατὰ τοὺς λοιποὺς ἐᾶσαι. Aaibel Praef. 288c\° shows ἀρκετὰ tpt[—these three deaths suffice: the god is entreated to be satisfied. (The word is MGr.)
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἄριστον (ariston) — early meal. ἄριστον, τό, morning meal, breakfast, twice in [Refs 8th c.BC+]: later, breakfast was called ἀκράτισμα, and ἄριστον was the midday meal, our luncheon,[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἄ. αἱρεῖσθαι, ποιεῖσθαι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]. [; contraction from ᾰ (y) ερι-στον, cf. Gothic air, OHG. ēr 'early', Avest. ayar[schwa] 'day'; also ᾱ (y) ερ- in ἦρι, ἠέριο; -στο- from -d-to-, root ed- 'eat'.]