生ふ

From Old Japanese.

Appears to be cognate with an op- stem that also derives modern 大きい (ōkii, “big, large”), 多い (ōi, “many”), and possibly 覆う (ōu, “to cover”).

生ふ(おう) • (ou) ^{←おふ (ofu)?}intransitive ^†nidan

1. (of plants or trees, archaic) to grow large, spring up
   • 905–914, Kokin Wakashū (book 8, poem 365; also Hyakunin Isshu, poem 16)

     立(たち)わかれいなばの山(やま)の峰(みね)におふる松(まつ)としきかば今(いま)かへりこむ

     tachiwakare Inaba-no-yama no mine ni ouru matsu to shi kikaba ima kaerikon

     I leave Mount Inaba with pines growing on its peak. If I hear you say “pine (wait),” I will surely return right away!

• 心(こころ)生(お)ふ (kokoro ou)

Appears to be cognate with an op- stem that also derives the stem 大 (opo-, “big, large”) and possibly the verb 覆ふ (opu, “to cover”).

生ふ (opu) (kana おふ)

1. (of plants or trees) to grow large, spring up
   • 711–712, Kojiki, lower volume (Emperor Yūryaku; poem 91):

     ...母登爾波伊久美陀氣淤斐須恵幣爾波多斯美陀氣淤斐...

     ...mo₂to₂ ni pa ikumi₁dake₂ opi₂ suwepe₁ ni pa tasimi₁dake₂ opi₂...

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 6, poem 925:

     烏玉之夜之深去者久木生留淸河原爾知鳥數鳴

     nubatama no₂ yo₁ no₂ puke₂yuke₂ba pi₁sagi₂ opuru ki₁yo₁ki₁ kapara ni tido₂ri sibanaku

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

• 生ほす (oposu, “to nurture”)
• 彌生 (iyaopi₂)

• Japanese: 生ふ (ou)