yodan verb with 'su' ending (archaic), transitive verb
to eat; to drink (honorific, archaic)
Archaic honorific verb for consuming food or drink. Used in classical Japanese to show respect toward the subject. In modern Japanese, 召し上がる is the standard honorific for eating and drinking.
古文では「食す」と書いて「おす」と読み、貴人が食事をなさる意を表した。
In classical texts, 食す is read as おす and expresses that a noble person partakes of a meal.
yodan verb with 'su' ending (archaic), transitive verb
to wear (clothing, honorific, archaic)
Archaic honorific verb for wearing clothes. This usage is extremely rare and found only in very old texts. Modern honorific for wearing is お召しになる.
古典では、高貴な方が衣を「食す」と表現されることがある。
In classical literature, a noble person's act of wearing garments is sometimes expressed with 食す.
yodan verb with 'su' ending (archaic), transitive verb
to govern; to rule (honorific, archaic)
Archaic honorific verb for governing or ruling. This sense is highly restricted to classical contexts and is not used in modern Japanese. Modern equivalents include 治める or 統治する.
古い文献では、帝が国を食すと記される。
In old documents, it is written that the emperor governs the land using 食す.