Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Muse

Muse , noun

[From French musse. See Muset.]

A gap or hole in a hedge, hence, wall, or the like, through which a wild animal is accustomed to pass; a muset.
Find a hare without a muse. — Old Prov

Muse , noun

[French Muse, Latin Musa, Greek {not transcribed}. Compare Mosaic, n., Music.]

1.
(Class. Mythology) One of the nine goddesses, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, who presided over song and the different kinds of poetry, and also the arts and sciences; -- often used in the plural. At one time certain other goddesses were considered as muses.
Granville commands; your aid, O Muses, bring: What Muse for Granville can refuse to sing? — Pope

The names of the Muses and the arts they presided over were: Calliope (Epic poetry), Clio (History), Erato (Lyric poetry), Euterpe (music), Melpomene (Tragedy), Polymnia or Polyhymnia (religious music), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy).

2.
A particular power and practice of poetry; the inspirational genius of a poet. — Shakespeare
3.
A poet; a bard. [Rare] — Milton

Muse , intransitive verb

[French muser to loiter or trifle, orig., to stand with open mouth, from Late Latin musus, morsus, muzzle, snout, from Latin morsus a biting, bite, from mordere to bite. See Morsel, and compare Amuse, Muzzle, n.]

1.
To think closely; to study in silence; to meditate.
Thereon mused he. — Chaucer
He mused upon some dangerous plot. — Sir P. Sidney
2.
To be absent in mind; to be so occupied in study or contemplation as not to observe passing scenes or things present; to be in a brown study. — Daniel
3.
To wonder. [Obsolete] — Spenser

Muse , transitive verb

1.
To think on; to meditate on.
Come, then, expressive Silence, muse his praise. — Thomson
2.
To wonder at. [Obsolete] — Shakespeare

Muse , noun

1.
Contemplation which abstracts the mind from passing scenes; absorbing thought; hence, absence of mind; a brown study. — Milton
2.
Wonder, or admiration. [Obsolete] — Spenser