Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MUSE, v.i. [s as z; Fr. muser, to loiter or trifle; It. musare, to gaze, to stand idle; allied to this word probably are L. musso and mussito, to mutter or murmur, to demur, to be silent. The Greek μυζω, signifies to press, or utter sound with the lips compressed. The latter verb belongs to Class Mg; for μυγμα, a sound uttered through the nose or with close lips, is of the same family, L. mussitatio. The word then primarily denotes what we call humming, to hum, as persons do when idle, or alone and steadily occupied. If the elements of the word are Ms, it may be referred to the Ar. and Syr. هَمَسَ hamasa. Class Ms, No. 35.]

1. To ponder; to think closely; to study in silence. He mused upon some dangerous plot. Sidney. I muse on the works of thy hands. Ps. cxliii.
2. To be absent in mind; to be so occupied in study or contemplation, as not to observe passing scenes or things present. Shak.
3. To wonder. Do not muse of me. [Obs.] Shak.