Muse

v. i. [imp. & p. p. MUSED; p. pr. & vb. n. MUSING.] [Fr. muser, to loiter or trifle, Pr. & O. Sp. musar, It. musare, to gaze, stand idle, O. H. Ger. muson, muozon, to be idle, moza, muoza, M. H. Ger. muoze, N. H. Ger. musze, idle or vacant time, leisure. Cf. AMUSE.]

1Sense 1. To think closely; to study in silence. He mused upon some dangerous plot. Sidney.

2Sense 2. To be absent-minded; to be so occupied in study or contemplation as not to observe passing scenes or things present.

3Sense 3. To wonder. [Obs.] I muse, my lord, your brother will permit it. B. Jonson.

Synonyms—To ponder; consider; meditate; ruminate. See PONDER.

To think on; to meditate on.

n. Deep thought; close attention or contemplation which abstracts the mind from passing scenes; hence, sometimes, absence of mind.

He was filled With admiration and deep muse to hear Of things so high and strange. Milton.

n. [Fr. muse, Pr., Sp., Pg., It., & Lat. musa, Gr. μοῦσα, probably from μάω, to seek out, invent, create.] (Myth.) One of the nine fabled goddesses who preside over literary, artistic, and scientific matters and labors; a genius of art, literature, or music;—used most frequently in the plural.

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

n. A gap in a hedge, fence, wall, or the like, through which a wild animal is accustomed to pass; a muset. Find a hare without a muse. Old Prov. A crew of gallants watch the wild muse of a boar. Chapman.