στέφανος
Alt. στέφα^νος, ὁ,
Etym. στέφω
I. properly, "that which surrounds", στ. πολέμοιο "the circling crowd" of fight, Il.; of "the wall round" a town, Pind.; καλλίπαις στ. "a circle" of fair children, Eur.
II. "a crown, wreath, garland, chaplet", Hes., etc.: esp. at the public games, "a crown of victory", Pind., Hdt., etc.:— these "prize-crowns" were mostly of "leaves", of κότινος at the Olympic games, δάφνη at the Pythian, σέλινον at the Nemean, κισσός or πίτυς at the Isthmian.
2. generally, "the meed" of victory, "the prize, victory", like Lat. palma, Soph.; στέφανον προτιθέναι to propose "a prize", Thuc.
3. generally, "a crown of glory, an honour, glory", Inscr. ap. Hdt.:— "a crown as a badge of office or distinction", Dem.