heldri

adj. compar. the better; and helztr, superl. the best, foremost; í heldra lagi, in high degree, Fms. ix. 262, Alex. 92; í heldrum lögum, id., Fas. iii. 551; þykkir mönnum sá helztr kostr, the best choice, Hkr. ii. 76; finnsk mér þat ráð helzt til …, the best step to be taken methinks is …, Fb. i. 83; beztrar vináttu ok helztrar, of the best friendship and truest, Bs. i. 708; er einn hefir verit helztr lendra manna í Noregi, Eb. 334: in mod. usage, heldra fólk, heldri menn, better sort of people, gentle folk, opp. to almúgi; heldri manna börn, and the like: helztu menn, the best men.