bestiary
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bes·ti·ar·y
(bĕs′chē-ĕr′ē, bēs′-)n. pl. bes·ti·ar·ies
A book consisting of a collection of descriptions of real and fabulous animals, often including a moral or allegorical interpretation of each animal's behavior. Bestiaries were particularly popular in medieval Europe.
[Medieval Latin bēstiārium, from Latin bēstia, beast.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
bestiary
(ˈbɛstɪərɪ)n, pl -aries
(Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a moralizing medieval collection of descriptions (and often illustrations) of real and mythical animals
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
bes•ti•ar•y
(ˈbɛs tʃiˌɛr i, ˈbis-)n., pl. -ar•ies.
a collection of moralizing tales about real and mythical animals.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
bestiary
a collection of fables, intended to teach a moral lesson, in which the characters are real or imaginary animals.
See also: Collections and Collectingan allegorical or moralizing commentary based upon real or fabled animals, usually medieval and sometimes illustrated.
See also: Animalsan allegorical or moralizing commentary, usually medieval and sometimes illustrated, based upon real or fabled animals.
See also: Literature-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Bestiary
a medieval written book which collects together verse, prose, and illustrations of real and fabled animals—Wilkes.Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| Noun | 1. | bestiary - a medieval book (usually illustrated) with allegorical and amusing descriptions of real and fabled animalsbook - a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together); "I am reading a good book on economics" |
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Translations
Bestiarium
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
bestiary
n → Bestiaire nt, → Bestiarium nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
bestiary - a medieval book (usually illustrated) with allegorical and amusing descriptions of real and fabled animals