is one of two words translated "best" in the AV, but the only one so rendered in the RV. In Luk 15:22 "the best (robe)" is, lit., "the first (robe)," i.e., chief, principal, first in rank or quality. See BEFORE, BEGINNING, CHIEF, FIRST, FORMER.
<2,,3187, meizon>
"greater," is translated "best" in 1Co 12:31, "the best gifts," greater, not in quality, but in importance and value. It is the comparative degree of megas, "great;" the superlative, megistos, is used only in 2Pe 1:4. See ELDER, GREATER and MORE.