Muse (?), n. [From F. musse. See Muset.]

A gap or hole in a hedge, hence, wall, or the like, through which a wild animal is accustomed to pass; a muset.

Find a hare without a muse. Old Prov.

 

© Webster 1913.


Muse, n. [F. Muse, L. Musa, Gr. . Cf. Mosaic, n., Music.]

1. Class. Myth.

One of the nine goddesses who presided over song and the different kinds of poetry, and also the arts and sciences; -- often used in the plural.

Granville commands; your aid, O Muses, bring: What Muse for Granville can refuse to sing? Pope.

⇒ The names of the Muses were Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polymnia or Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania.

2.

A particular power and practice of poetry.

Shak.

3.

A poet; a bard.

[R.]

Milton.

 

© Webster 1913.


Muse, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mused (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Musing.] [F. muser to loiter or trifle, orig., to stand with open mouth, fr. LL. musus, morsus, muzzle, snout, fr. L. morsus a biting, bite, fr. mordere to bite. See Morsel, and cf. Amuse, Muzzle, n.]

1.

To think closely; to study in silence; to meditate.

"Thereon mused he."

Chaucer.

He mused upon some dangerous plot. Sir P. Sidney.

2.

To be absent in mind; to be so occupied in study or contemplation as not to observe passing scenes or things present; to be in a brown study.

Daniel.

3.

To wonder.

[Obs.]

Spenser. B. Jonson.

Syn. -- To consider; meditate; ruminate. See Ponder.

 

© Webster 1913.


Muse, v. t.

1.

To think on; to meditate on.

Come, then, expressive Silence, muse his praise. Thomson.

2.

To wonder at.

[Obs.]

Shak.

 

© Webster 1913.


Muse, n.

1.

Contemplation which abstracts the mind from passing scenes; absorbing thought; hence, absence of mind; a brown study.

Milton.

2.

Wonder, or admiration.

[Obs.]

Spenser.

 

© Webster 1913.