A.nourishing, nutritious, “γάλα -ώτατον” Arist. HA523a11, cf. Pr.927a22 (Comp.), Phld.Sign.27, Sor.1.94, al., Gal. 6.382; opp. ἄτ ροφος, Thphr.CP6.4.5: c. gen., “γᾶ τρόφιμε τῶν ἐμῶν τέκνων” E.Tr.1302 (lyr.), cf. Ion235 (lyr.); also “ὕδωρ τὸ περὶ κηπείας τ.” Pl.Lg.845d; τ. κλυστῆρες nutritive enemata, Lycusap. Orib.8.34tit.
II. Subst. τρόφιμος, ὁ, a slave's young master, “ὁ τ. σου” Men.Epit.Fr.1, cf. Epit.160, Pk.74, al., Com.Adesp.24.20, 25.41 D.; rendered erilis filius by Ter.Andr.602, Eun.289, Phorm.39, v. Donat. ad locc.: metaph., “ἡ βουλὴ τὸν ἑαυτῆς τ. καὶ εὐεργέτην” SIG879.10 (Erythrae, iii A. D.): “ἡ τροφίμη” the mistress, Poll.3.73.
2. neut. τρόφιμον, τό, maintenance, sustenance, BGU297.21 (i A. D.); “τ. δουλικόν” PMich.Teb.121vi18, al. (i A. D.): esp. food-supply of Alexandria, Just.Edict.13.26, PKlein.Form.328.4 (vi A. D., cf. Arch.Pap.5.294): τροφίμη σύνταξις contract for board, AP9.175 (Pall.).
III. Pass., nursling, foster-child, “παῖς τ. τίνος;” E.Ion684 (lyr.), cf. Archipp.23, Pl.Plt.272b; ὁ τ., freq. in Inscrr., IG22.3969,3.3396, etc., and Pap., POxy.1491.10 (iv A. D.), etc.; “τ. ἀδελφός” PCair.Preis. 42.6 (iii/iv A. D.); fem. “τροφίμη” POxy.903.6 (iv A. D.): “οἱ τ.” our nurslings, pupils, Pl.R.520d, cf. Lg.804a; “τ. τῆς ἀρετῆς” Luc.Bis Acc.6, cf. AP10.52 (Pall.) :—at Sparta, οἱ τ. were young persons too poor to pay their quota to the φιλίτια, and brought up as companions of the richer class, who paid for them, X.HG5.3.9 :— also τ. κύνες dogs kept in the house, Ael.NA11.13, 16.31.
2. of bodies, healthy, strong, well-nourished, Hp.Aër.20 (Comp.); of plants, flourishing, luxuriant, Thphr.CP1.15.4 (Comp.).
