bestiary

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

/ ˈbɛs tʃiˌɛr i, ˈbis- /

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

Origin of bestiary

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

bes·ti·a·rist

[bes-chee-er-ist, -cher-, bees-] /ˈbɛs tʃi ər ɪst, -tʃər-, ˈbis-/, noun

bestest, besti, bestial, bestiality, bestialize, bestiary, bestie, bestir, bestow, bestraddle, bestrew

This theme is found in the Physiologus, a 256 medieval bestiary.

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

Selections from Early Middle English 1130-1250: Part II: Notes |Various
A Bestiary of the beginning of the thirteenth century, enriched with many very curious paintings upon a ground of brilliant gold.

Annals of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, A.D. 1598-A.D. 1867 |William Dunn Macray
The author of the Bestiary was acquainted with one or both of these.

Selections from Early Middle English 1130-1250: Part II: Notes |Various

Bestiary, a name given to a class of books treating of animals, viewed allegorically.

The Nuttall Encyclopaedia |Edited by Rev. James Wood

bestiary

/ (ˈbɛstɪərɪ) /

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