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so used figuratively. Or heap the shrine of luxury and pride, With incense kindled at the Muse's flame. Gray. Incense tree, the name of several balsamic trees of the genus Bursera (or Icica) mostly tropical American. The gum resin is used for incense. In Jamaica the Chrysobalanus Icaco, a tree related to the plums, is…

Alluring; tempting; as, an inviting amusement or prospect. Nothing is so easy and inviting as the retort of abuse and sarcasm. W. Irving. -- In*vit"ing*ly, adv. -- In*vit"ing*ness, n. Jer. Taylor.

elons for a long time were executed; from whence we have Jack Ketch. Lloyd's MS., British Museum. [Monmouth] then accosted John Ketch, the executioner, a wretch who had butchered many brave and noble victims, and whose name has, during a century and a half, been vulgarly given to all who have succeeded him in his odiou…

Something done or said in order to amuse; a joke; a witticism; a jocose or sportive remark or phrase. See Synonyms under Jest, v. i. I must be sad . . . smile at no man's jests. Shak. The Right Honorable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his jests, and to his imagination for his facts. Sheridan.…

To play tricks by sleight of hand; to cause amusement and sport by tricks of skill; to conjure.

ination; desire; pleasure; preference; -- often with for, formerly with to; as, it is an amusement I have no liking for. If the human intellect hath once taken a liking to any doctrine, . . . it draws everything else into harmony with that doctrine, and to its support. Bacon.

Inclined to wild sports; delighting in rash, absurd, or dangerous amusements. "The merry madcap

mind in a state of contemplation; to dwell on anything in thought; to think seriously; to muse; to cogitate; to reflect. Jer. Taylor. In his law doth he meditate day and night. Ps. i. 2.

The Muse of tragedy.

Any revolving contrivance for affording amusement; esp., a ring of flying hobbyhorses.

To a great degree; very much. Practical jokes amused us mightily. Hawthorne.

Obscured as if by mist; dim; obscure; clouded; as, misty sight. The more I muse therein [theology], The mistier it seemeth. Piers Plowman.

The goddess of memory and the mother of the Muses.

See Muse, and Muset.

Of or pertaining to the Muses, or to Poetry. [R.]

An itinerant player on the musette, an instrument formerly common in Europe.

See Muset.

A symbol representing nine units, as 9 or ix. The Nine, the nine Muses.

yed, visited, or the like; not private; public; unrestricted in use; as, an open library, museum, court, or other assembly; liable to the approach, trespass, or attack of any one; unprotected; exposed. If Demetrius . . . have a matter against any man, the law is open and there are deputies. Acts xix. 33. The service th…

f instrumental musicians performing in a theater, concert hall, or other place of public amusement.