φέρβω

A. ἔφερβε φονέα ἑαυτοῦ App. Syr. 62); feed, nourish, of the earth, h.Hom. 30.2; [ἄνθεμα] ὕδωρ φέρβει Pi. O. 2.73; μ’ ἔφερβε σὸς δόμος E. Or. 869; of shepherds, φ. βοτά Id. Hipp. 75; c. gen. rei, ἐπεὶ βοτάνης ἐπεφόρβει βοῦς h.Merc. 105.

2. preserve, πατρώϊον οἶκον Hes. Op. 377.

II. Pass., to be fed, feed upon a thing, παρέξω δαῖθ’ ὑφ’ ὧν ἐφερβόμην shall make food for those by whom I fed myself, S. Ph. 957; τάδε φέρβεται ἐκ σέθεν ὄλβου h.Hom. 30.4.

2. eat, consume, c. acc., ἡ ψυχὴ τὸ σῶμα φέρβεται Hp. Epid. 6.5.2; metaph., feed on, σοφίαν E. Med. 827 (lyr.): c. dat., ἐλπίσιν Hp. Ep. 17: abs., to be fed, live, A.R. 4.1016.

3. enjoy, have, κρέσσονα ἁλικίας νόον Pi. P. 5.110:—late in Act., φέρβειν πρηΰτατον . . νόημα Opp. H. 2.643.