Bestiary: meaning, definitions and examples

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bestiary

 

[ หˆbษ›stษชหŒษ›ri ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

collection of animals

A bestiary is a compendium of animals, both real and mythical, often accompanied by descriptions, illustrations, and moral lessons. Traditionally, bestiaries served as both educational and entertaining texts, revealing the characteristics of various creatures and their significance in the medieval worldview. They were popular in the Middle Ages and were often illuminated with intricate artwork that depicted the animals described within. Bestiaries reflect the cultural attitudes and beliefs of the time, serving to educate people about animals and their symbolic meanings, often linking them to human virtues or vices.

Synonyms

animal anthology, wildlife catalog, zoological compendium

Examples of usage

  • The medieval bestiary was filled with fascinating creatures.
  • In the bestiary, unicorns symbolized purity and grace.
  • Scholars study bestiaries to understand medieval thought.
  • The artist illustrated a bestiary with vibrant colors.

Translations

Translations of the word "bestiary" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น bestรกrio

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคชเคถเฅ เคตเคฟเคœเฅเคžเคพเคจ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Bestiar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ bestiar

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฑะตัั‚ั–ะฐั€ั–ะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ bestiariusz

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒ™ใ‚นใƒ†ใ‚ฃใ‚ขใƒชใƒผ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท bestiary

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ bestiario

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท bestiyer

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฒ ์Šคํ‹ฐ์–ด๋ฆฌ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุจุณุชูŠุงุฑ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ bestiรกล™

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ bestiรกr

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅŠจ็‰ฉๅฟ—

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ bestiarij

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ bestiary

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑะตัั‚ะธะฐั€ะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ‘แƒ”แƒกแƒขแƒ˜แƒแƒ แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ bestiar

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ bestiario

Word origin

The term 'bestiary' originates from the Latin word 'bestiarium', which itself is derived from 'bestia', meaning 'beast'. This concept can be traced back to ancient civilizations, including the Greeks and Romans, where animals were often depicted in philosophical and allegorical texts. However, it was during the medieval period that the bestiary truly flourished. In the Middle Ages, bestiaries served not only as natural histories but also as moral and spiritual guides, often blending fact and fiction. The bestiary genre was heavily influenced by earlier texts such as 'Physiologus', a Greek text from the second century AD that presented allegorical accounts of animals. Over the centuries, these illustrated volumes became treasured manuscripts, meticulously copied and adorned by scribes and artists, reflecting both the scientific curiosity and the symbolic thinking of the time. The bestiary's legacy continues in literature and art, representing humanity's fascination with the natural world.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,273, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.