noun
- medieval books containing descriptions and illustrations of real and mythical animals, often with moral or religious lessons
Usage: historical; plural of bestiary
Examples
- Medieval bestiaries often depicted unicorns and dragons alongside real animals.
- The illuminated bestiaries in the monastery library were works of art.
- Scholars study ancient bestiaries to understand medieval beliefs about nature.
- These bestiaries combined natural history with Christian symbolism.
- The museum’s collection includes several rare European bestiaries.
- Artists drew inspiration from the fantastical creatures in medieval bestiaries.