▪ I. muse, n.1
(mjuːz)
Also 6 muze.
[a. F. muse, ad. L. mūsa, a. Gr. µοῦσα (Doric µῶσα, µῶα, æolic µοῖσα):—pre-Hellenic *montya, f. Indogermanic root *mon- (:men-: mn-) to think, remember, etc.: see mind n.]
1. Mythol. a. (Now usually with capital.) One of nine sister-goddesses, the offspring of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory), regarded as the inspirers of learning and the arts, esp. of poetry and music.
In Greek antiquity there were other accounts as to the number of the Muses and of their parentage. The names of the nine Muses appear first in Hesiod, who says that Calliope is the chief of them. Later mythologists assigned to each of the Muses a particular class of functions, which, however, are less definitely limited than they appear in modern allusive use, where Clio is the Muse of history, Thalia of comedy, Melpomene of tragedy, Euterpe of music, and Terpsichore of dancing. The other names, Erato, Polyhymnia, Urania, and Calliope, are rarely mentioned in modern literature, as they have no well-known association with any particular branch of art or knowledge. Urania (lit. ‘the heavenly’; in formal lists the Muse of astronomy) is invoked by Milton (P.L. vii.), who explains that he means not the fabled goddess of mythology, but the true celestial source of inspiration.
| c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame iii. 309 So songe the myghty Muse, she That cleped ys caliope. a 1400–50 Alexander 2113 Þe muses [Dubl. MS. musys] of musike. 1539 Taverner Erasm. Prov. (1552) 13 The doores of the muses be wythout enuye, that is to say, lerned persons ought frely..admyt other unto them y{supt} desire to be taught. 1632 Milton Penseroso 47 Spare Fast, that..hears the Muses..round about Joves Altar sing. 1714 Spect. No. 632 ¶ 1 Herodotus has in the same manner adapted his Books to the Number of the Muses. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones ii. vi, If the historic Muse hath entrusted me with any secrets, I will by no means be guilty of discovering them till she shall give me leave. 1803 Campbell Stanzas to Painting 7, I bless thee, Promethean muse! And call thee brightest of the Nine. 1813 Northcote Sir J. Reynolds (1818) I. 246 Sir Joshua..never..even marked his own name, except in the instance of Mrs. Siddons's portrait as the Tragic Muse. 1847 Tennyson Princess ii. 377, I learnt more from her in a flash, Than if my brainpan were an empty hull, And every Muse tumbled a science in. |
b. In classical poetry the Muse is often invoked or referred to as if only one Muse were recognized. Hence often in modern poetic use (cf. 2 a).
| 1629 Milton Christ's Nativ. iii, Say Heav'nly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein Afford a present to the Infant God? 1714 Tickell Spect. No. 620 Whom shall the Muse from out the shining Throng Select to heighten and adorn her Song? 1842 Tennyson Will Waterproof 9 No vain libation to the Muse, But may she still be kind. |
c. As represented in painting or sculpture.
| 1756–7 tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) II. 368 The two muses, under one of which is the word vrania, are good pieces. 1847 Tennyson Princess ii. 13 The Muses and the Graces, group'd in threes, Enring'd a billowing fountain in the midst. |
d. transf.
| a 1695 A. Wood Ath. Oxon. (1721) II. 1036 Dr. Killigrew had a Daughter named Anne, a Grace for Beauty, and a Muse for Wit. |
2. (With capital or small initial, according to the degree of personification.) a. Chiefly with a possessive: The inspiring goddess of a particular poet. Hence, a poet's particular genius, the character of his style and spirit.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. Proeme 9 O lady myn þat called art Cleo, Thow be my speed fro þis forth and my muse, To ryme wel þis book til I haue do. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 384 My muse doth me forto wite. 1576 Gascoigne Steele Gl. (Arb.) 53 As though my muze were mute and durst not sing. 1628 Milton Vac. Exerc. 53 But fie my wandring Muse how thou dost stray! 1868 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1877) II. vii. 159 The Biographer now deems it a fitting occasion to call on his muse to set forth the sufferings of the innocent. |
b. the Muse: poetry personified, as an object of devotion. So the Muses: the liberal arts, ‘polite literature’.
| 1755 Johnson Dict. Pref. B j, The votaries of the northern muses. 1776 Gibbon Decl. & F. x. (1869) I. 206 The barbarians became masters of the native seat of the muses and the arts. 1785–1821 Ritson (title) The Caledonian Muse; a Chronological Selection of Scotish Poetry. 1806 Pye Ode for New Yr. in Times 18 Jan., Weak is the loudest lay the Muse can sing, His deeds of valour to record. 1838 Thirlwall Greece II. xi. 58 The leisure of his retirement from public life was to the last devoted to the muses. |
c. transf. Used for: One under the guidance of a Muse, a poet.
| 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 4 That memorable Sea-battle [at Lepanto]..sung by a crowned Muse [i.e. James I of England]. 1637 Milton Lycidas 19 So may som gentle Muse With lucky words favour my destin'd Urn, And as he passes turn, And bid fair peace be to my sable shrowd. 1803 H. K. White Clifton Grove Ded., The following trifling effusions of a very youthful muse. 1905 Athenæum 19 Aug. 233/2 The stately mansion built by that attenuated but majestic muse Mrs. Montagu. |
d. In phr. the tenth Muse, a muse of inspiration figured as being added to the nine of classical mythology.
| 1650 A. Bradstreet (title) The tenth Muse lately sprung up in America, or Severall poems, compiled with great variety of wit and learning. c 1838 C. J. Mathews in M. R. Booth Eng. Plays of 19th Cent. (1973) IV. 125 Tell her from me that she's a second Venus, a tenth Muse, a fourth Grace. 1855 A. Trollope Warden xiv. 220 It was here that Tom Towers lived, and cultivated with eminent success the tenth Muse who now governs the periodical press. 1957 H. Read (title) The tenth Muse: essays in criticism. 1973 Guardian 29 June 15/4 Poet confronts poet..they ‘talked shop like a tenth muse’. |
† 3. A song. Obs.
| a 1529 Skelton Replyc. 337 For all his armony In metricall muses. |
4. attrib. and Comb., as † muse-man, † muse-monger, † muse-sucker; muse-bit, muse-descended, muse-discovered, muse-haunted, muse-inspired, muse-led, muse-like, muse-loved, muse-rid, muse-ridden, adjs.
| 1770 Armstrong Sk. II. Misc. II. 274 A *muse-bit block⁓head. |
| 1749 West Odes Pindar (1753) I. 53 The *Muse-descended Song. |
| 1656 Cowley Pindar. Odes, 2nd Olympique vii, The *Muse-discovered World of Islands Fortunate. |
| 1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus lxi. 27 Leave the Thespian hollow-arch'd Rock, *muse-haunted, Aonian. |
| 1660 Waller To King, upon Happy Return 117 The *Muse-inspired train Triumph, and raise their drooping heads again. |
| 1759 Mason Caractacus, To Hurd 14 Oft my *Muse-led steps did'st thou behold. |
| 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) I. 317 They wou'd..add their graces and attractive charms to what is most harmonious, *muse-like, and divine in human life. |
| 1624 A. Holland in J. Davies Scourge Paper-Persecutors 2 Each driueling Lozel now..Starts vp a sudden *Muse⁓man, and streight throws A Packe of Epigrams into the light. |
| 1608 Day Hum. out of Br. Ded. (1881) 3 The Iron⁓pated *Muse-mongers about the towne. |
| 1728 Pope Dunc. ii. 33 No meagre, *muse-rid mope, adust and thin. |
| 1697 Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. ii. To Rdr. (1709) 5 To be *Muse-ridden at this rate is somewhat hard. |
| 1604 Middleton Father Hubburd's T. Wks. (Bullen) VIII. 52 You never give the poor *Muse-suckers a penny. |
▪ II. muse, n.2
(mjuːz)
Also 6–7 muze. Somewhat arch.
[f. muse v. Cf. OF. muse amusement, waste of time, deception.]
† a. The action of musing; profound meditation or abstraction (obs.). b. An instance of this, a fit of abstraction; now only in sing. † (to be) in one's muses: in a state of abstraction (obs.). † c. to be at a muse: to be perplexed or uncertain; to ‘wonder’ (whether, how, what, etc.). Obs.
| c 1475 Partenay 3431 In pensif muses hym faste beseying, He rest noght to ryde, so to Maillers cam. 1544 Patten Exped. Scotl. Pref. a iv, I haue bene often at a great muse with my selfe, whither the kynges Maiestie [etc.]. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Cogitatio, To be in a deepe muse. 1578 Banister Hist. Man iv. 55 When a man by earnest study or muse vnto him selfe, vpon any earnest or waighty matter [etc.]. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 94 His Lady, whome he finding in hir muses, began pleasantly to salute. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia ii. (1622) 113 In this depth of muzes, and diuers sorts of discourses, would shee rauingly haue remained, but that [etc.]. 1626–7 in Crt. & Times Chas. I (1848) I. 251 For the duke and our fleet, we are now all at a muse what should become of them. 1667 Milton P.L. vii. 52 He..was fill'd With admiration, and deep Muse to heare Of things so high and strange. 1701 Norris Ideal World i. ii. 73 Such a profound muse as when we are said to think upon nothing. a 1713 T. Ellwood Autobiog. (1714) 234 He made me no Answer, but sate some time in a Muse. 1751 R. Paltock P. Wilkins (1884) II. 279 ‘Sir’, says I, after a seeming muse for some time, ‘what should you think of Oniwheske [for a wife]?’ 1871 Browning Balaust. 2682 Where she dwells Forever in a muse. 1889 Stevenson Master of B. ii, He would fall into a deep muse over our accounts. |
▪ III. † muse, n.3
[a. OF. muse; by Fr. scholars regarded as identical with muse muse n.1, or as a verbal noun f. the cognate med.L. mūsāre to play music. Cf. cornemuse.]
A bagpipe.
The explanation in quot. 1782, which alone appears in modern Dicts., seems to be a pseudo-etymological guess connecting the word with OF. muse muzzle.
| 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 14304 Bombardys and cornemusys, Thys ffloutys ek, with sotyl musys. 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop vi. vii, Whanne I pyped and played of my muse or bag pype ye dayned ne wold not daunse. [1782 Burney Hist. Mus. II. 270 note, The Muse is the muzzle or tube of a bag-pipe, without the bellows.] |
▪ IV. † muse, n.4 Obs.
Forms: 6 mose, mouse, (? pl. mowsies), mouce, 6–7 muse.
[Utimately a. Arab. mauz, mauza{suph} banana.]
The fruit of the plantain or banana (see musa1). Also attrib.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens vi. xxxviii. 704 Of Musa or Mose tree. The Mose tree leaues be so great and large, that one may easyly wrap a childe..in them. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xvi. 17 b, Apples of paradice, which they call muses. 1588 T. Hickock tr. Frederick's Voy. 18 Laden with fruite, as with Mouces which we call Adams apples. Marg. The Mowsies is a kind of fruite growing in clusters and are 5 or 6 inches long a peece. c 1602 in Purchas Pilgrims (1625) II. 1617 At Damiatta..are great gardens, full of Adams figs,..these are also called Mouses. |
▪ V. muse, v.
(mjuːz)
Forms: 4 mwse, 4–5 moyse, 5 mouse, mowse, mewse, musee, musse, mose, 6 muze, Sc. mus(s, 4– muse.
[a. F. muser (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), to waste time, trifle, in OF. also to muse, meditate = Pr. musar, It. musare to stare about, idle, loiter.
Prob. a derivative of the Rom. word represented by It. muso, OF. muse muzzle (cf. Florio's explanation of It. musare, ‘to hould ones musle or snout in the aire’), the primary allusion being to the action of ‘a dog sniffing the air when in doubt as to the scent’ (Skeat). Possibly the sense ‘to meditate’ may be due to the influence of L. mūsa muse n.1 Cf. med.L. mūsāre to play music.]
I. intr.
1. a. To be absorbed in thought; to meditate continuously in silence; to ponder. Const. of, on, upon, † in. † In early use occas. with inf. of purpose.
| 1340 Ayenb. 104 Þer-uore ich þe rede wel þet þou ne musy naȝt to moche hit uor to zeche. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. xi. 137 Þe more I muse þeron þe mistiloker hit [Theology] semeþ. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints l. (Katerine) 111 Þu suld moyse here & merwall, of hewine & erth. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 320 Thus fulofte there he sat To muse in his philosophie. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 144 Austyn gan muse in his oppynyoun, To fynde a mene the sowle for to save. c 1460 Sir R. Ros La Belle Dame 202 He mused sore, to conquere his desire. c 1489 Caxton Blanchardyn xliii. 162 He was musyng vpon þ⊇ werke. 1490 ― Eneydos xxxvii. 126 Whan kynge Latyne hadde mused a lytyll in hym selfe he ansuered. 1535 Coverdale Ps. xxxviii. 3 Whyle I was thus musynge, the fyre kyndled. 1607 Earl Stirling J. Cæsar iv. i, Who muse of many things, resolve of none. 1634 W. Tirwhyt tr. Balzac's Lett. (vol. I.) 400 If I muse but two houres on the bankes of the Tyber, I am as understanding as if I had studied eight days. 1732 Berkeley Alciphr. iii. §1 Alciphron, having mused a while, answered [etc.]. 1781 Cowper Retirem. 376 And cultivate a taste for ancient song, Catching its ardour as I mus'd along. 1816 J. Wilson City of Plague ii. ii. 169 The sorrowful Still love to muse on all distressful things. 1833 H. Martineau Berkeley the Banker i. i, Her father paused to muse. 1901 ‘Lucas Malet’ Sir R. Calmady vi. xi, Lady Calmady..musing of many matters..slowly went the length of the terrace. 1906 Outlook 14 July 42/2 In Imperial politics he decided..while other men were musing and hesitating. |
| quasi-trans. 1781 Cowper Truth 441 Sorrow might muse herself to madness then. |
b. With dependent question.
| 1390 Gower Conf. I. 282 Whan that I muse And thenke how sche me wol refuse, I am with anger so bestad, For al this world mihte I be glad. a 1555 Ridley Conf. with Latimer (1556) e 7, I haue begonne..to muse with myselfe, howe the dartes of the olde enemye maye be borne of. a 1713 T. Ellwood Autobiog. (1714) 21, I..stood..musing with my self what Course to take. |
† c. In proverbial phr.: (see quot.). Obs.
| a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew s.v. Corn, He measures my Corn by his own Bushel, he muses as he uses, he thinks me Bad because he is so himself. |
d. To say or murmur meditatively.
| 1834 A. Marsh Two Old Men's Tales II. xviii. 224 ‘But what can I promise? I who have nothing,’ mused she, ‘and am now penniless.’ 1843 Dickens Christmas Carol 32 ‘You must have been very slow about it, Jacob.’..‘Slow!’ the Ghost repeated. ‘Seven years dead,’ mused Scrooge ‘And travelling all the time?’ 1881 Mrs. J. H. Riddell Senior Partner I. vii. 150 ‘That's strange,’ mused Mr. McCullagh; ‘and you getting on for thirty year of age.’ 1922 Joyce Ulysses 212 Amused Buck Mulligan mused in pleasant murmur with himself, selfnodding: ‘A pleased bottom.’ |
2. With dependent question: To be at a loss to discover; to ask oneself meditatively, to ‘wonder’ (what, how, etc.). Now rare.
| c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 35 But here men musen whi prelatis ben so redy to curs in here owne cause. c 1407 Lydg. Reson & Sens. 2893 Musyng, what hyt myghte be That she so straungely spake to me. 1513 More Rich. III in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 785 Whyle men mused what the matter ment. a 1562 Cavendish Wolsey (1893) 34 It made all the noble men..and gentil-women to muse what it [sc. the firing of guns] shold mean, commyng so sodenly. 1581 Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. iii. (1586) 161 b, Which maketh me much muse how it should be so. 1791 Cowper Odyss. xx. 41, I muse How single as I am I shall assail These shameless suitors. 1853 M. Arnold Sohrab & Rustum 347 Ah me, I muse what this young fox may mean! |
3. a. To be affected with astonishment or surprise; to wonder, marvel. Const. at, † of, † to. Now rare (poet.).
| 1340 Ayenb. 47 Ofte hy sseaweþ and diȝteþ ham þe more quaynteliche and þe more honesteliche uor to maki musi þe foles to ham. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 6266 A grete wondir..Þat in swa short tyme..He mught..discusse al thyng; Bot of þis suld nane muse, lered ne lewed, For als grete wondirs has God shewed. c 1450 Mirour Saluacioun 3837 The aungeles with outen meseure thise thinges musyd seyng. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 6 Some persons perauenture wyll muse or meruayle. 1530 Palsgr. 443/1, I muse at it to se how he bandeth hymselfe with your enemyes. a 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV 234 The Frenchmen their at not a littell mused. 1605 Shakes. Macb. iii. iv. 85 Do not muse at me my most worthy Friends. 1641 Milton Prel. Episc. Wks. 1851 III. 83 We need no longer muse at the spreading of many idle traditions. 1859 Tennyson Elaine 1261 Then came the fine Gawain and wonder'd at her, And Lancelot later came and mused at her. |
† b. With clause or inf. expressing the occasion for wonder. Obs.
| 1530 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) I. 328, I much muse that your Grace should so think. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 178 Thou wilt muse Philautus to heere Euphues to preach, who of late had more minde to serue his Lady then to worshippe his Lorde. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iii. i. 1, I muse my Lord of Gloster is not come. 1599 Queen Elizabeth in Harington Nugæ Ant. (1804) I. 304 We cannot but muse that you shoulde recite that circumstance. 1631 Dekker Match Mee iii. Wks. 1873 IV. 180, I muse thou art so poore. 1632 Thomas of Reading in Thoms E.E. Prose Rom. (1858) I. 135, I muse thou canst indure this vile beseeming seruitude. |
† c. To be a matter of wonder. Obs.
| c 1460 Towneley Myst. iv. 12 Wheder ar all oure elders went? This musys mekill in my thoght. |
4. To gaze meditatively; to look thoughtfully or intently. Const. on, upon, † in.
| ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 1527 He so musede in the welle, That..He lovede his owne shadowe. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 128 It [his cofre] schal noght after ben unstoken, Bot whanne him list to have a syhte Of gold..That he ther on mai loke and muse. c 1430 Pol. Rel. & L. Songs (1866) 148 As y stood musynge on þe moone. c 1450 Lovelich Grail xliv. 570 Faste towardis hym gan he to Muse, And vppon hym sette his hors hed. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 1231 Ilk man may..muse in his myrrour. 1639 N. N. tr. Du Bosq's Compl. Woman i. 63, I have heretofore a long time mused on the Statue of Venus made by Phidias. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 113 ¶1 This was the Place wherein I used to muse upon her. 1798 Wordsw. Night-piece 26 The mind..Is left to muse upon the solemn scene. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. I. 69 For some time Rip lay musing on this scene. 183. J. H. Newman Ch. Fathers (1840) 232 He began to eye and muse upon the great bishop of Milan. |
† 5. To wait or look expectantly. Obs.
| a 1450 Knt. de La Tour (1906) 45 She..wolde no more make folke to mouse after her, but wolde be sonner arraied and atte the chirche thanne ani other. |
† 6. To murmur; to grumble, complain. Obs.
| 1382 Wyclif 2 Sam. xii. 19 Whanne thanne Dauid hadde herd his seruauntis musynge [Vulg. mussitantes]. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 17 Wiche ought of resone the devise to excuse, To alle tho that wold ageyn it ffroune or muse. 1549–62 Sternhold & H. Ps. ii. 1 Why did the Jewish people muse, Seeing all is but vaine? 1598 Shakes. Merry W. v. v. 253 Well, I will muse no further: M{supr} Fenton, Heauen giue you many, many merry dayes. |
II. trans.
7. To ponder over, reflect upon; to contemplate, meditate. Now rare.
| c 1395 Plowman's Tale 89 He mused his matter in mesure. c 1460 J. Metham Wks. (E.E.T.S.) 64/1714 Ys this the loue that we haue musyd so offt? 1724 Ramsay Vision i, I wandert waif and wae, Musand our main mischaunce. 1730 Thomson Hymn on Seasons 121 Come then, expressive Silence, muse his praise. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey ii. i, The poet was absent, for he was musing a sonnet. 1878 B. Taylor Deukalion i. iii, What musest thou? |
| transf. and fig. 1850 Mrs. Browning Rom. Page xi, His large eyes seemed to muse a smile. |
† 8. To murmur discontentedly. Obs.
| 1388 Wyclif John vii. 32 Farisees herden the puple musinge [1382 grucchinge, Vulg. murmurantem] of hym these thingis. 1402 Hoccleve Letter of Cupid 238 Yt shal not ben in her elleccion the foulest slutte of al a tovne refuse, yf that me lyst, for al that they can muse. |
† 9. To excogitate. Obs.
| a 1375 Cursor M. 2267 (Fairf.) Þer ware al þe speche mused þat now ar in þis werlde vsed. |
† 10. To marvel at. Obs.
| 1567 Gude & Godlie Ball. (S.T.S.) 165 Musing greitlie in my mynde, The folie that is in mankynde. 1610 Shakes. Temp. iii. iii. 36, I cannot too much muse Such shapes, such gesture, and such sound. |
† 11. To bewilder, puzzle. Obs.
| 1673 S'too him Bayes 58 But that that most muses me is this. |
▪ VI. muse
var. meuse; obs. f. mews, moss.