muse English · revision 948

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /mjuːz/ ''(UK)''; /mjuz/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|musen]], [[bor|fro|muser|t=to ponder; to loiter]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) of uncertain origin, perhaps from ''mus'' “snout”, as if “to stand with one's nose in the air”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[la-med|mūsum|t=muzzle]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The noun ''Muse'' is [[bor|fro|Muse]] and [[der|la|Mūsa]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|Μοῦσα|tr=Moûsa]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) perhaps from the Proto-Indo-European root ''*men-'' “to think”.^(AHD)^(Etymonline) The two words are unrelated, though the verb's sense may have been influenced by the noun.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a verb, to be absorbed in thought, to ponder (1340);^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) as a noun, one of the nine Muses (late 14th century).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Old French verb also meant “to loiter, waste time”, as in [[amuse]].^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) In Middle English ''muse'' could also mean “to wonder, marvel” (1340), now rare.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) The Muses, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, presided over the arts and sciences;^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) from the late 14th century the word also meant the goddess who inspires a particular poet,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and then any source of inspiration, or a poet (1615).^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1340 – verb, to ponder; to wonder.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1374 – a poet's inspiring goddess.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1380 – one of the nine Muses.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 15th century – noun, a state of deep thought.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1615 – a poet.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To be absorbed in thought; to [[ponder]] or [[meditate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To say or consider thoughtfully.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To wonder or marvel.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(often capitalized)'' Any of the nine daughters of [[Zeus]] and Mnemosyne in Greek mythology, each presiding over one of the arts or sciences.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A source of inspiration, especially for an artist or poet; a guiding spirit.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A poet.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A state of deep thought or dreamy abstraction.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[musingly]]

+ * [[muser]]

+ * [[bemuse]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[museum]]

+ * [[music]]

+ * [[musing]]

+ * [[amuse]]

+ * [[muzzle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}