Musée
/mjuːˈzeɪ/noun
A museum, especially one devoted to art or used as part of a proper name.
Did you know?The ancient Mouseion of Alexandria was not simply a gallery but a scholarly institution dedicated to the Muses, housing researchers and the famous Library of Alexandria.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*men-
“To think, remember, or have one’s mind directed toward something; a proposed deep root behind the Greek Muse tradition.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Μοῦσα (Moûsa)
“A Muse, one of the divine figures associated with artistic and intellectual inspiration.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Μουσεῖον (Mouseîon)
“A place belonging to the Muses; a shrine or institution devoted to learning and the arts.”
Ancient Latin
Latin
museum
“A place devoted to the Muses, later a study, library, or collection of works of art.”
16th Century
French
musée
“A museum or institution preserving and displaying works of art and objects of knowledge.”
Modern English
English
musée
“A museum, especially in an art-related name or as a deliberate French-styled loanword.”