Perseus analyses of καρτίστοις:

κάρτιστος: masc/neut dat pl
κράτιστος (strongest, mightiest): masc/neut dat pl (epic)

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κάρτιστος

κάρτιστος, η, ον, Ep. for κράτιστος. καρτομιστής, ὁ , = κερτομιστής, Hsch.

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κρᾰ/τιστος

κράτιστος, η, ον, Ep. κάρτ- (as always in Hom.), isolated Superl. from κρατύς,

A. strongest, mightiest, Il. 1.266, etc.; θεῶν κ., i.e. Zeus. Pi. O. 14.13; κ. Ἑλλήνων, i.e. Achilles, S. Ph. 3: in Prose, εἰ τοὺς κ. ἐνικήσαμεν Th. 7.67; Λημνίων τὸ κ. the best of their men, Id. 5.8; τὸ δυνάμεως κ. the strength or flower of . . , X. Cyr. 6.1.28, etc.; of things, καρτίστην . . μάχην fiercest fight, Il. 6.185; δεσμὸς κ. Ti.Locr. 99a.

b. as a title or mode of address, κράτιστε Θεόφιλε Ev.Luc. 1.3; esp. = Lat. egregius, ὁ κ. ἡγεμών PFay.p.33 (i A.D.); ὁ κ. ἐπίτροπος BGU 891 (ii A.D.); ἡ κ., of a woman of the equester ordo, IG 14. 1346; also, = Lat. clarissimus, of Senators, ὁ κ. ἀνθὐπατος ib.9(1).61; ὁ κ. συγκλητικός IGRom. 3.581, etc.; ἡ κ. βουλή POxy. 2108.6 (iii A. D.).

3. neut. folld. by inf., φυγέειν κάρτιστον to flee were best, Od. 12.120, cf. E. El. 379, Ar. Eq. 80, etc.: in pl., κράτιστα . . ἑλεῖν E. Med. 384: abs., ὅπερ κ. the main point, Th. 1.143.