Bestiary (noun)

A compendium of descriptions and illustrations of real and legendary animals, especially in the Middle Ages.

Origin:

Middle english bestarie, from old french bestiaire, from medieval latin bestiarius, from latin bestia beast.

Examples:

1. The bestiary was a popular form of literature in the medieval period.
2. Many bestiaries included fantastic creatures such as griffins and unicorns.
3. The bestiary was not just a source of entertainment, but also had allegorical and moral significance.
4. The illuminated manuscript was a beautiful example of a medieval bestiary.
5. Bestiaries often included allegorical tales that taught moral lessons through the depiction of animals.