Bestiary
/ˈbɛs.ti.ˌɛr.i/noun
A book containing descriptions and illustrations of real or mythical animals, often with moral lessons.
Did you know?Bestiaries were often used in the Middle Ages as both natural history texts and moral guides, linking animal behavior to human virtues and vices.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
bestiarum
“of beasts; a collection of animal lore.”
Old French
Old French
bestiari
“a book about beasts.”
Middle English
Middle English
bestiary
“a medieval text describing animals with allegorical meanings.”
Modern English
Modern English
bestiary
“a compendium of beasts, often fantastical or symbolic.”