Search the Dictionary

The famous mythic Thracian poet, son of the Muse Calliope, and husband of Eurydice. He is reputed to have had power to entrance beasts and inanimate objects by the music of his lyre.

A mountain in Greece, sacred to Apollo and the Muses, and famous for a temple of Apollo and for the Castalian spring. Grass of Parnassus. (Bot.) See under Grass, and Parnassia. -- To climb Parnassus, to write poetry. [Colloq.]

dmissable; moderate; mediocre. My version will appear a passable beauty when the original muse is absent. Dryden.

That which amuses, and serves to make time pass agreeably; sport; amusement; diversion.

; to wait; to rest. "Tarry, pause a day or two." Shak. Pausing while, thus to herself she mused. Milton.

is noted for causing, with a blow of his hoof, Hippocrene, the inspiring fountain of the Muses, to spring from Mount Helicon. On this account he is, in modern times, associated with the Muses, and with ideas of poetic inspiration. Each spurs his jaded Pegasus apace. Byron.

Of or pertaining to Pierides or Muses. Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. Pope.

The Muses.

To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot. As Cannace was playing in her walk. Chaucer. The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy reason, would he skip and play! Pope. And some, the darlings of their Lord, Play smiling with the flame and sword. Keble.…

One who plays, or amuses himself; one without serious aims; an idler; a trifler. Shak.

A companion in amusements or sports; a playmate. Shak.

A thing to play with; a toy; anything that serves to amuse. A child knows his nurse, and by degrees the playthings of a little more advanced age. Locke.

Amusement; sport; diversion; self-indulgence; frivolous or dissipating enjoyment; hence, sensual gratification; -- opposed to labor, service, duty, self-denial, etc. "Not sunk in carnal pleasure." Milton. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man. Prov. xxi. 17. Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. 2 Tim. iii…

The Muse of lyric poetry.

To think; to deliberate; to muse; -- usually followed by on or over. Longfellow.

nable by the many; hence, cheap; common; ordinary; inferior; as, popular prices; popular amusements. The smallest figs, called popular figs, . . . are, of all others, the basest and of least account. Holland.

e Emperor Alexander Severus. It is owned by the Duke of Portland, and kept in the British Museum.

To perform certain acts frequently or customarily, either for instruction, profit, or amusement; as, to practice with the broadsword or with the rifle; to practice on the piano. practise

man or wretch. A race more profligate than we. Roscommon. Made prostitute and profligate muse. Dryden.

; to filch. Had from his wakeful custody purloined The guarded gold. Milton. when did the muse from Fletcher scenes purloin Dryden.