STRONGS NUMBER G712

Apparently neuter of a superlative from the same as arrhen; the best meal (or breakfast; perhaps from eri ("early")), i.e. Luncheon -- dinner.

see GREEK arrhen

a. the first food, taken early in the morning before work, breakfast; dinner was called δεῖπνον. But the later Greeks called breakfast; τό ἀκράτισμα, and dinner ἄριστον i. e. δεῖπνον μεσηβρινον, Athen. 1, 9, 10, p. 11b.; and so in the N. T. Hence,

b. dinner: Luke 14:12 (ποιεῖν ἄριστον ἤ δεῖπνον, to which others are invited); Luke 11:38; Matthew 22:4 (ἑτοιμάζειν). (B. D. under the word ; Becker's Charicles, namely, vi. excurs. i. (English translation, p. 312f).)