n.
Pronunciation: ' bes-ch ē - ˌ er- ē , - ˌ e-r ē , ' besh-, ' b ē s-, ' b ē sh-
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -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 animals
2 a : a collection of descriptions or representations of real or imaginary animals b : an array of real humans or literary characters often having symbolic significance
3 : an unusual or whimsical collection <a truly astounding bestiary of airplane designs ― Peter Garrison>