bestiary

What is another word for bestiary? Here is its meaning, with related words and examples.

Noun — A bestiary is a medieval book describing real and imagined animals, often with a moral or religious lesson attached.

We haven't recorded synonyms for bestiary yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.

How to use bestiary

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

medieval bestiary illustrated bestiary in-game bestiary complete the bestiary

The medieval sense is a historical and literary term, while the gaming sense is informal and specific to games.

Etymology

Bestiary comes from Medieval Latin bestiarium, itself from Latin bestia, meaning beast or animal. It can also be read simply as beast joined with the suffix -ary.

Full origin of bestiary →

Frequently asked questions

What is a bestiary in the medieval sense?

It was a book describing real and mythical animals, usually paired with a moral or religious point about each one.

What does bestiary mean in video games?

It refers to an in-game guidebook that lists the monsters a player can encounter, often with details about each one.

Are all bestiaries about mythical creatures?

No, medieval bestiaries mixed real animals with imaginary ones, and modern uses of the word can refer to any grouped collection of creatures.

Nearby words

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