Library / English Dictionary

MUSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The source of an artist's inspiration

Example:

Euterpe was his muse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("muse" is a kind of...):

germ; seed; source (anything that provides inspiration for later work)

Derivation:

muse (reflect deeply on a subject)

Sense 2

Meaning:

In ancient Greek mythology any of 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne; protector of an art or science

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("Muse" is a kind of...):

Greek deity (a deity worshipped by the ancient Greeks)

Instance hyponyms:

Urania ((Greek mythology) the Muse of astronomy)

Thalia ((Greek mythology) the Muse of comedy and pastoral poetry)

Terpsichore ((Greek mythology) the Muse of the dance and of choral song)

Polyhymnia ((Greek mythology) the Muse of singing and mime and sacred dance)

Melpomene ((Greek mythology) the Muse of tragedy)

Euterpe ((Greek mythology) the Muse of music (or the flute))

Erato ((Greek mythology) the Muse of lyric and love poetry)

Clio ((Greek mythology) the Muse of history)

Calliope ((Greek mythology) the Muse of epic poetry)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Reflect deeply on a subject

Example:

The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate

Synonyms:

chew over; contemplate; excogitate; meditate; mull; mull over; muse; ponder; reflect; ruminate; speculate; think over

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "muse" is one way to...):

cerebrate; cogitate; think (use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "muse"):

premeditate (think or reflect beforehand or in advance)

theologise; theologize (make theoretical speculations about theology or discuss theological subjects)

introspect (reflect on one's own thoughts and feelings)

bethink (consider or ponder something carefully)

cogitate (consider carefully and deeply; reflect upon; turn over in one's mind)

question; wonder (place in doubt or express doubtful speculation)

puzzle (be uncertain about; think about without fully understanding or being able to decide)

consider; study (give careful consideration to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

muse (the source of an artist's inspiration)

muser (a reflective thinker characterized by quiet contemplation)

musing (a calm, lengthy, intent consideration)

Credits

 Context examples: 

There was nothing for the dogs to do, save the hauling in of meat now and again that Thornton killed, and Buck spent long hours musing by the fire.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Catherine stood musing for a while, and at last said to her husband, Hark ye, Frederick, we will soon get the gold back: let us run after the thieves.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Thanks to this inspiration, he got on swimmingly for a time, but gradually the work lost its charm, and he forgot to compose, while he sat musing, pen in hand, or roamed about the gay city to get some new ideas and refresh his mind, which seemed to be in a somewhat unsettled state that winter.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It was good that men should be specialists, I mused.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He was musing, not speaking to me; so I remained quiet.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"Well," said he, "what are you musing about? What does that grave smile signify?"

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It seems she was romantically given, for she sat down upon her box, which stood immediately under the window, and fell into a dream of musing.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

She was deep in other musing.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Have you been musing about moving or fixing up your present home?

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The contrast between Mrs. Churchill's importance in the world, and Jane Fairfax's, struck her; one was every thing, the other nothing—and she sat musing on the difference of woman's destiny, and quite unconscious on what her eyes were fixed, till roused by Miss Bates's saying, Aye, I see what you are thinking of, the pianoforte.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)