/myoohz/ , n.
1. Class. Myth.
a. any of a number of sister goddesses, originally given as Aoede (song), Melete (meditation), and Mneme (memory), but latterly and more commonly as the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne who presided over various arts: Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (lyric poetry), Euterpe (music), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (religious music), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy); identified by the Romans with the Camenae.
b. any goddess presiding over a particular art.
2. ( sometimes l.c. ) the goddess or the power regarded as inspiring a poet, artist, thinker, or the like.
3. ( l.c. ) the genius or powers characteristic of a poet.
[ 1350-1400; ME Muse Musa Moûsa ]