GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 5 definitions

1.       
   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.
   
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   Find a hare without a muse. Old Prov.
   
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2.       
   Muse, n. [F. Muse, L. Musa, Gr. .  Cf. Mosaic, n., Music.]
   1. (Class. Myth.) One of the nine goddesses, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, who presided over song and the different kinds of poetry, and also the arts and sciences; -- often used in the plural.  At one time certain other goddesses were considered as muses.
   
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   Granville commands; your aid, O Muses, bring:
   
   What Muse for Granville can refuse to sing? Pope.
   
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   ☞ The names of the Muses and the arts they presided over were: Calliope (Epic poetry), Clio (History), Erato (Lyric poetry), Euterpe (music), Melpomene (Tragedy), Polymnia or Polyhymnia (religious music), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy).
   
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   2. A particular power and practice of poetry; the inspirational genius of a poet.  Shak.
   
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   3. A poet; a bard. [R.]  Milton.
   
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3.       
   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.
   
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   He mused upon some dangerous plot. Sir P. Sidney.
   
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   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.
   
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   3. To wonder. [Obs.]  Spenser.  B. Jonson.
   
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   Syn. -- To consider; meditate; ruminate. See Ponder.
   
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4.       
   Muse, v. t.
   1. To think on; to meditate on.
   
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   Come, then, expressive Silence, muse his praise. Thomson.
   
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   2. To wonder at. [Obs.]  Shak.
   
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5.       
   Muse, n.
   1. Contemplation which abstracts the mind from passing scenes; absorbing thought; hence, absence of mind; a brown study.  Milton.
   
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   2. Wonder, or admiration. [Obs.]  Spenser.
   
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