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museum wax museum

Main Entry: mu·se·um
Pronunciation: my-z-m
Function: noun
Etymology: from Latin Museum "a place devoted to the Muses, a place for the study of special arts and sciences," from Greek Mouseion (same meaning), from Mouseios "of the Muses," from Mousa "Muse, goddess of an art or science" --related to MUSIC
: a building or part of a building in which objects of lasting interest or value are displayed
Word History The ancient Greeks worshipped nine sister goddesses, each of whom was called a Mousa. In English we now refer to them as the Muses. The Greeks believed that each Muse was the goddess of a particular art or science. A place that was dedicated to these goddesses -- and to the arts and sciences for which they stood -- was called a Mouseion. The Greek Mouseion became Museum in Latin, from which it was borrowed into English about 300 years ago.