bestiary

[ bes-chee-er-ee, bees- ]

noun

, plural bes·ti·ar·ies.

1. a collection of moralized fables, especially as written in the Middle Ages, about actual or mythical animals.

bestiary

/ ˈbɛstɪərɪ /

noun

1. a moralizing medieval collection of descriptions (and often illustrations) of real and mythical animals

Other Words From

• bes·ti·a·rist [bes, -chee-er-ist, -cher-, bees, -], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bestiary¹

1615–25; < Medieval Latin bēstiārium, neuter of Latin bēstiārius. See beast, -ary

Example Sentences

The quantum spin liquid is the latest entry in that bestiary of cryptid states.

From Popular-Science

The maps for US congressional and state legislative races often resemble electoral bestiaries, with bizarrely shaped districts emerging from wonky hybrids of counties, precincts, and census blocks.

From MIT Technology Review

For the structure of this verse, see p. 327; the following is a restoration and scansion of the passages in the Bestiary.

From Project Gutenberg

The author of the Bestiary was acquainted with one or both of these.

From Project Gutenberg

The medival bestiary was a book which sought to enunciate religious instruction by an appeal to the curiosity of credulous people.

From Project Gutenberg

Another Bestiary, of slightly later date, illuminated in the same manner.

From Project Gutenberg

A Bestiary of the beginning of the thirteenth century, enriched with many very curious paintings upon a ground of brilliant gold.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fantasy
• fiction
• legend
• myth
• parable
• tale
• yarn