Middle English Dictionary Entry
Mūse n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Mūse n. |
| Etymology | L mūsa & OF muse; ult. Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One of the nine Muses of classical mythology; ?a chorus of Muses in a classical tragedy [quot.: Lydg.TB 2.899]; (b) a Muse inspiring a particular poet; also fig. poetic inspiration, poetic genius; (c) a poem or song, poetry; a strain of music; (d) pl. knowledge, wisdom.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.92 : Me were looth be likned..To Muses that men clepe Pierides.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1735 : Hoold thow thy pees, thou poete, Marcian, That writest vs..of the songes that the Muses songe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.899 : Al þis was tolde and rad of þe poete..whil þat he in þe pulpit stood..Singinge his dites, with muses al to-rent, Amydde þe theatre schrowdid in a tent, Þer cam out men..Pleying by signes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3685 : I am nat a-queintid with no mwse Of alle nyne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6968 : I noon excepte of þe false route..Iubiter, Mercurius, nor Pluto..Nor þe mvses þat so singen can.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)828 : The weddyng..Vnhappy was..Ne ther was none of the musys nyne.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.9 : O lady myn that called art Cleo, Thow be my speed fro this forth, and my Muse.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.1.4 : Rendynge Muses [L camenae] of poetes enditen to me thynges to ben writen.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.1.47 : She saugh thise poetical Muses [L Musas] aprochen aboute my bed.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.104 : Be humble stile set in pleyn langage -- Nat maad corious be non auauntage Of rethoriques, with musis for to stryue.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Miseric.(Hrl 2255)73 : The Musis nyne sang the weddyng song Of Mercurye And Philologye.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1399 : So song the myghty Muse, she That cleped ys Caliope.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2113 : Þare saȝe he selcuthis sere..Þe muses [Dub: musys] of musike.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)170 : I ha ne with me no muse, Noon of the nyne that on Parnase duelle.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Expos.PNoster (LdMisc 683)16 : Neer that good hope doth my brydel leede Toward Pernaso, to fynde there som muse.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.3140 : My muse..seith it schal be for my beste..That y nomore of love make.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)env. 878/76 : In makyng þouȝ I haue no mvse, Late trewe menyng þe surplus excuse.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.11.47 : The Muse and the doctrine of Plato syngeth soth.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)499 : Who shal my stile guye, Or hens forth who shall be my muse?
- c1450(c1393) Chaucer Scog.(Benson-Robinson)38 : Ne thynke I never of slep to wake my muse, That rusteth in my shethe stille in pees.
c
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.5.72 : In the lattre eende of thy wode muse, thow preydest that thilke pees that governeth the hevene schulde governe the erthe.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14304 : Bombardys and cornemusys, Thys ffloutys ek, with sotyl musys, And thys shallys loude crye.
d
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.1.78 : But goth now rather awey, ye mermaydenes..and suffreth this man to ben cured and heeled by myne muses (that is to seyn, by noteful sciences).