muse
- to think or meditate in silence, as on some subject.
- Archaic. to gaze meditatively or wonderingly.
- to meditate on.
- to comment thoughtfully or ruminate upon.
Origin of muse
Synonyms
See more synonyms for muse on Thesaurus.comMuse
- Classical Mythology.
- any of a number of sister goddesses, originally given as Aoede (song), Melete (meditation), and Mneme (memory), but latterly and more commonly as the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne who presided over various arts: Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (lyric poetry), Euterpe (music), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (religious music), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy); identified by the Romans with the Camenae.
- any goddess presiding over a particular art.
- (sometimes lowercase) the goddess or the power regarded as inspiring a poet, artist, thinker, or the like.
- (lowercase) the genius or powers characteristic of a poet.
Origin of Muse
Examples from the Web for muses
Contemporary Examples
“In the camp no-one knows themselves,” muses the monstrous commandant.
Though Rabinowitz muses that something like this would not only be impractical but also incite severe backlash.
Porn Fights For Your Right to Surf: Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube Lead Charge For Net NeutralityAurora Snow
September 13, 2014
Richard Avedon considered Hepburn one of his muses in the 50s and the two maintained a close professional relationship.
Jonah Hill & Spike Jonze to Write Play For NYFW; Audrey Hepburn’s Granddaughter Makes Her Modeling DebutThe Fashion Beast Team
August 13, 2014
Instead, he muses, why not regulate as if all people need guns, everywhere?
She and Balanchine parted ways in the early 50s, and he would have other muses, but Tallchief was the template for them all.
The Deaths You Missed This YearMalcolm Jones, Jimmy So, Michael Moynihan, Caitlin Dickson
December 30, 2013
Historical Examples
If this be the test, I am willing to be tried with Hipparete at the court of the Muses.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
The Graces were often worshipped in the same temple with the Muses.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
The muses, like vines, may be pruned, but not with a hatchet.
Joseph Andrews, Vol. 2Henry Fielding
As for the muses, they have as much an idea of a rhinoceros as of a poet.
The Letters of Robert BurnsRobert Burns
They are almost the only favour the muses have conferred on me in that country.
The Letters of Robert BurnsRobert Burns
muse1
- (when intr, often foll by on or about) to reflect (about) or ponder (on), usually in silence
- (intr) to gaze thoughtfully
- archaic a state of abstraction
Word Origin
muse2
- a goddess that inspires a creative artist, esp a poet
Word Origin
Muse
- Greek myth any of nine sister goddesses, each of whom was regarded as the protectress of a different art or science. Daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the nine are Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania
Word Origin and History for muses
muse
v.
"to reflect, to be absorbed in thought," mid-14c., from Old French muser (12c.) "to ponder, dream, wonder; loiter, waste time," literally "to stand with one's nose in the air" (or, possibly, "to sniff about" like a dog who has lost the scent), from muse "muzzle," from Gallo-Romance *musa "snout," of unknown origin. Probably influenced in sense by muse (n.). Related: Mused; musing.
muse
n.
late 14c., protectors of the arts, from Old French Muse and directly from Latin Musa, from Greek Mousa, "the Muse," also "music, song," from PIE root *men- "to think, remember" (see mind (n.)). Meaning "inspiring goddess of a particular poet" is from late 14c. The traditional names and specialties of the nine Muses, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, are: Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (love poetry, lyric art), Euterpe (music, especially flute), Melpomene (tragedy), Polymnia (hymns), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy), Urania (astronomy).
Muses
Nine goddesses of classical mythology who presided over learning and the arts. They were especially associated with poetry. Ancient Greek or Roman writers would often begin their poems by asking for the aid of the Muses in their composition.