A.tending plants or trees, “φ. δένδρων” Secund.Sent.16: as Subst., planter, gardener, “φ. ἱεροὶ Ἀπόλλωνος” SIG22 (Epist.Darei), cf. APl.4.255, Plu.2.2b.
II. metaph., begetting, generating, “πατὴρ φ.” A.Supp.592 (lyr.); “τοῦ φ. πατρός” S.OT1482; ὁ φ. (without πατήρ) E.Tr.481; “φυτουργὸς Θέτιδος” Id.IA949; in later Prose, “πατέρα καὶ φ.” Jul.Or.2.83a.
2. creator, author, Pl.R.597d.