bestiaries

Noun

bestiary (plural bestiaries)

1. A medieval treatise of various real or imaginary animals.
   • Back in the 60s, Robin Boyd told us how ugly Australian architecture was. As his valediction, he has left us a bestiary of ugly Australians.16 Jun 1972, Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby, page 22, column 1
2. A collection of various beasts, depicted in art, literature, or the like.
   • More commonly known to the English speaker as “Genie”; the “dijn” is a powerful demon in the bestiary of the Middle East, mistaken in this instance for the Buddha.1 Mar 1996, The Australian Jewish News, Melbourne, page 25, column 3
3. A list or guidebook of the monsters to be found in a roleplaying game.