Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day: “Muse”

Episode Date: October 18, 2025
Host: Peter Sokolowski

Episode Overview

In this episode, Peter Sokolowski takes listeners on a thoughtful journey into the word “muse”. The discussion explores both the verb's usage (“to think deeply or absorb oneself in thought”) and the fascinating etymological roots that connect the word to gaping mouths and animal muzzles—while also distinguishing it from its homonym related to Greek mythology and inspiration.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definition of “Muse” (00:06)

• Muse (verb):
  • To think about something carefully or thoroughly.
  • Often followed by the prepositions about, on, over, or upon.
  • Also means to become absorbed in thought, or to think or say something in a thoughtful way.

2. Example Sentence (00:29)

• From Harpswell:
  • “On a crisp winter's day, 100-year-old Peg Logan sits in her favorite wingback chair in the living room of her Harpswell home. She flips through the pages of an oversized gardening book and muses about the vegetables she'll plant in the spring.”

3. Etymology & Origins (00:53)

• The word “muse” traces back to the Anglo-French verb muser, meaning “to gape, to idle, to muse.”
• The imagery is of “a thinker so absorbed in thought as to be unconsciously open-mouthed.”
• Quote (Peter Sokolowski, 01:06):
  • “The image evoked is one of a thinker so absorbed in thought as to be unconsciously open-mouthed.”

4. Etymological Tidbit & Related Words (01:17)

• The ultimate origin relates to the medieval Latin noun mus, meaning “mouth of an animal” — also the root of the word muzzle.
• Quote (Peter Sokolowski, 01:23):
  • “Those who muse on their pet's musings might like to know that muse is ultimately from the medieval Latin noun mus, meaning mouth of an animal, also the source of the word muzzle.”

5. Not to Be Confused: “Muse” (noun) (01:35)

• The noun “muse,” meaning “a source of inspiration” or (with capitalization) one of the goddesses of Greek mythology, is not etymologically linked to the verb “muse.”
• That noun comes from the Greek mousa, ultimately the source of “museum.”
• Quote (Peter Sokolowski, 01:46):
  • “The noun muse, which in lowercase refers to a source of inspiration and, when capitalized, to one of the sister goddesses of Greek mythology, has no etymological link. That word comes from the Greek mousa. The ultimate Greek origin of the word museum translates as ‘of the muses.’”

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• “The image evoked is one of a thinker so absorbed in thought as to be unconsciously open-mouthed.” (Peter Sokolowski, 01:06)
• “Muse is ultimately from the medieval Latin noun mus, meaning mouth of an animal, also the source of the word muzzle.” (Peter Sokolowski, 01:23)
• “The noun muse… has no etymological link” to the verb meaning, emphasizing the fascinating split in origins. (Peter Sokolowski, 01:46)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:06 — Introduction & verb definition
• 00:29 — Example usage in a real-world sentence
• 00:53 — Origins in Anglo-French and construction of mental imagery
• 01:17 — Connection to “muzzle” and animal etymology
• 01:35 — Explanation of the noun “muse” and its Greek origins

Summary

Peter Sokolowski’s exploration of “muse” offers listeners both practical usage advice and intriguing linguistic connections, making this word of the day a little window into the rich history and nuance of English vocabulary.

For more definitions and daily word discoveries, visit Merriam-Webster.com.