Main Entry:

bes·ti·ary

Pronunciation:

\ˈbes-chē-ˌer-ē, -ˌe-rē, ˈbesh-, ˈbēs-, ˈbēsh-\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural bes·ti·ar·ies

Etymology:

Medieval Latin bestiarium, from Latin, neuter of bestiarius of beasts, from bestia

Date:

1840

1: a medieval allegorical or moralizing work on the appearance and habits of real or imaginary animals2 a: a collection of descriptions or representations of real or imaginary animals b: an array of real humans or literary characters often having symbolic significance3: an unusual or whimsical collection <a truly astounding bestiary of airplane designs — Peter Garrison>