Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Muse
Muse
,Noun.
[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.
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.
Granville commands; your aid, O Muses, bring:
What
What
Muse
for Granville can refuse to sing? Pope.
☞ 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). 2.
A particular power and practice of poetry; the inspirational genius of a poet.
Shak.
3.
A poet; a bard.
[R.]
Milton.
Muse
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Mused
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Musing
.] 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.
Muse
,Verb.
T.
1.
To think on; to meditate on.
Come, then, expressive Silence,
muse
his praise. Thomson.
2.
To wonder at.
[Obs.]
Shak.
Muse
,Noun.
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 1828 Edition
Muse
MUSE
,Noun.
1.
Properly, song; but in usage, the deity or power of poetry. Hence poets in modern times, as in ancient, invoke the aid of the Muse or Muses, or in other words,the genius of poetry. Granville commands; your aid, O Muses, bring,
What Muse for Granville can refuse to sing?
2.
Deep thought; close attention or contemplation which abstracts the minds from passing scenes; hence sometimes, absence of mind. As in great muse, no word to creature spake.
He was fill'd
With admiration and deep muse to hear
Of things so high and strange.
MUSE
,Verb.
I.
1.
To ponder; to think closely; to study in silence. He mused upon some dangerous plot.
I muse on the works of thy hands. Ps.143.
2.
To be absent in mind; to be so occupied in study or contemplation, as not to observe passing scenes or things present.3.
To wonder. Do not muse of me.
MUSE
,Verb.
T.