muse

v. t. 1. To think on; to meditate on. [ 1913 Webster ]

Come, then, expressive Silence, muse his praise. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To wonder at. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Contemplation which abstracts the mind from passing scenes; absorbing thought; hence, absence of mind; a brown study. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Wonder, or admiration. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. Muse, L. Musa, Gr. &unr_;. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Granville commands; your aid, O Muses, bring:
What Muse for Granville can refuse to sing? Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A particular power and practice of poetry; the inspirational genius of a poet. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A poet; a bard. [ R. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

He mused upon some dangerous plot. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To wonder. [ Obs. ] Spenser. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To consider; meditate; ruminate. See Ponder. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Meditative; thoughtfully silent. “Museful mopings.” Dryden. -- Muse"ful*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

a. Unregardful of the Muses; disregarding the power of poetry; unpoetical. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who muses. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. mussette, dim. of musse, muce, a hiding place, fr. F. musser, OF. mucier, muchier, to conceal, hide. Cf. Micher. ] A small hole or gap through which a wild animal passes; a muse. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]