Dictionary
Thesaurus
Sentence Examples

Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » bestiary

bestiary

Listen See in a sentence

(bes′tē er′ē)

noun pl. bestiaries

a type of medieval natural history book with descriptions and moralistic and religious interpretations of actual and mythical animals

Origin: ML bestiarium < L bestiarius, relating to beasts < bestia, beast

See bestiary in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. bes·ti·ar·ies

A medieval collection of stories providing physical and allegorical descriptions of real or imaginary animals along with an interpretation of the moral significance each animal was thought to embody. A number of common misconceptions relating to natural history were preserved in these popular accounts.
A modern version of such a collection.

Origin:

Origin: Medieval Latin bēstiārium

Origin: , from Latin bēstia, beast

.

Learn more about bestiary

bestiary in a sentence

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD

transfiguration

About YourDictionary Advertisers Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Help
© 1996-2013 LoveToKnow, Corp. All Rights Reserved. Audio pronunciation provided by LoveToKnow, Corp.