Definitions for bestiary
ˈbɛs tʃiˌɛr i, ˈbis-bes·tia·ry

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. bestiarynoun

   a medieval book (usually illustrated) with allegorical and amusing descriptions of real and fabled animals

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. bestiarynoun

   A medieval treatise of various real or imaginary animals.

2. Etymology: From bestiaire, from bestia (whence English beast).

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Bestiary

   A bestiary (from bestiarum vocabulum) is a compendium of beasts. Originating in the ancient world, bestiaries were made popular in the Middle Ages in illustrated volumes that described various animals and even rocks. The natural history and illustration of each beast was usually accompanied by a moral lesson. This reflected the belief that the world itself was the Word of God and that every living thing had its own special meaning. For example, the pelican, which was believed to tear open its breast to bring its young to life with its own blood, was a living representation of Jesus. Thus the bestiary is also a reference to the symbolic language of animals in Western Christian art and literature.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. bestiary

   A bestiary is a descriptive or anecdotal book about various kinds of animals, especially a medieval work with a moral or religious focus. The animals in a bestiary are often real or mythical creatures, and their characteristics or attributes are described with symbolic or allegorical interpretations.

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Bestiary

   A bestiary, or Bestiarum vocabulum is a compendium of beasts. Originating in the Ancient world, bestiaries were made popular in the Middle Ages in illustrated volumes that described various animals, birds and even rocks. The natural history and illustration of each beast was usually accompanied by a moral lesson. This reflected the belief that the world itself was the Word of God, and that every living thing had its own special meaning. For example, the pelican, which was believed to tear open its breast to bring its young to life with its own blood, was a living representation of Jesus. The bestiary, then, is also a reference to the symbolic language of animals in Western Christian art and literature.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Bestiary

   best′i-ar-i, n. the name given to a class of books of great popularity in the Middle Ages, describing all the animals of creation, real or fabled, generally illustrated by drawings, and allegorised for edification. [Low L. bestiarium, a menagerie.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Bestiary

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

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. bestiarynoun

   Bestiary's modern use is a disapproving or mocking collection of notable people or things.

   'Any such rule would only add to what Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia once described as the “bestiary of ad hoc tests” under the "Imaginary Commerce Clause".'

   Etymology: From the medieval usage

   
   

   Submitted by rpmhm0 on October 7, 2022  

Matched Categories

1. • Book

Anagrams for bestiary »

1. sybarite

How to pronounce bestiary?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say bestiary in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of bestiary in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of bestiary in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

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