"以 V 之" as a post-nominal modifier in Classical Chinese In English, we can say &quot;He bought something to eat,&quot; where &quot;to eat&quot; functions like an adjective to &quot;something.&quot; I'm wondering whether in Classical Chinese, &quot;以 V 之&quot; shares this function.
I'd appreciate your help.
in classical chinese, the structure “以” + one character + “之” could be interpreted in multiple ways.
in the analects (論語), chapter 為政:

子曰・詩三百・一言以蔽之曰・思無邪

confucius said (子曰): “the book of odes” (詩三百), in one verse, (一言) for (以) summarising (蔽) it (之) ; [which] is (曰): think (思) without (無) depravation (邪)
that, “it” referred back to “the book of odes”
https://ctext.org/dictionary.pl?if=gb&amp;id=1119
again in the analects (論語), chapter 里仁:

子曰・. . . ・好仁者・無以尚之

confucius said (子曰): “. . ., those who (者) preferred (好) virtue (仁), nothing (無) could be (以) appended to (尚) [his/her goodness] (之)
i would interpret like this, others might disagree :)
https://ctext.org/dictionary.pl?if=gb&amp;id=1173#s10020221
in the book “稽神錄”, volume 3:

. . . 頃之・其女病・即生釘棺中・流之於江・至金山・有漁人見而異之・引之至岸・開視之・見女子猶活・因取置漁舍中・多得鰻鯬魚以食之・久之病愈・遂為漁人之妻・至今尚無恙

many times (多), catching (得) eels (鰻鯬魚) for (以) feeding (食 —&gt; 餵食) her (之)
or, repeatedly (多), using (得) eels (鰻鯬魚) to (以) feed (食 —&gt; 餵食) her (之)
in which, her (之) is referred to the sick girl (女病) whom is put into a coffin alive (生釘棺中), dropped into the river (流之於江), and saved by the fisherman.
treat “食” as “eat” in the above verses is, incorrect.

have fun :)