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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To muster up

Muster \Mus"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mustered; p. pr. & vb. n. Mustering.] [OE. mustren, prop., to show, OF. mostrer, mustrer, moustrer, monstrer, F. montrer, fr. L. monstrare to show. See Monster.]

  1. To collect and display; to assemble, as troops for parade, inspection, exercise, or the like.
    --Spenser.

  2. Hence: To summon together; to enroll in service; to get together. ``Mustering all its force.''
    --Cowper.

    All the gay feathers he could muster.
    --L'Estrange.

    To muster troops into service (Mil.), to inspect and enter troops on the muster roll of the army.

    To muster troops out of service (Mil.), to register them for final payment and discharge.

    To muster up, to gather up; to succeed in obtaining; to obtain with some effort or difficulty.

    One of those who can muster up sufficient sprightliness to engage in a game of forfeits.
    --Hazlitt.

Usage examples of "to muster up".

It took everything Rheela had to muster up her nerve, because she was quite certain of the response she was going to get.

Roberta asked, trying to muster up a show of righteous indignation on behalf of the rest of the human race.

She sat back on her couch and sighed, too tired to muster up the argument again.

That was the time the fleet would need to muster up and get there.

But he felt so weak, confused and mortified that it was hard to muster up enough strength to focus his mind.

He was able to muster up only a shred of his composure, so shocked was he to find Midkemias second most ancient race living among this impossible forest, deep in the ice of an alien planet.

Shar clenched her fists until her nails cut into the palms of her hands, desperately trying to muster up even the tiniest amount of energy.