bes·ti·ar·y n. bes·ti·ar·ies pl.
1. A medieval collection of stories providing physical and allegorical descriptions of real or imaginary animals along with an interpretation of the moral significance each animal was thought to embody. A number of common misconceptions relating to natural history were preserved in these popular accounts.
2. A modern version of such a collection.
[Medieval Latin bestairium, from Latin bestia, beast.]