Word of the Day for Thursday May 19, 2005 menagerie \muh-NAJ-uh-ree; -NAZH-\, noun: 1. A collection of wild or unusual animals, especially for exhibition. 2. An enclosure where wild or unusual animals are kept or exhibited. 3. A diverse or varied group. No palace had such a fine menagerie, stocked with howler monkeys, hill mynahs and Moluccan cockatoos that eliminated any need for a wind-up Swiss alarm clock. --Pogo, "Life of Pi," [1]Reviewer's Bookwatch, October 2004 Once, when he was too ill even to visit the zoo, Gerald was provided with a sort of substitute zoo of his own by the family butler, Jomen, who modelled a whole menagerie of animals -- rhinoceros, lion, tiger, antelope -- out of red laterite clay from the garden. --Douglas Botting, [2]Gerald Durrell: The Authorized Biography They must have been an amiable lot, however, for she was so obviously unprepared for the veritable menagerie of cabin passengers on the return voyage to New York. --Joan Druett, [3]Hen Frigates Leaner organizations may not have the infrastructure or a menagerie of specialists, but they are able to offer greater personal attention, accountability and economy. --Marc Diener, "Seeking counsel: how to find Mr. or Mrs. Right, Esq," [4]Entrepreneur, January 2003 _________________________________________________________ Menagerie comes from French ménagerie, from Middle French, from menage, from Old French mesnage, "dwelling." References 1. http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/index.htm 2. http://www.amazon.com/exec/ASIN/0786707968/ref=nosim/lexico 3. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684854341/ref=nosim/lexico 4. http://www.entrepreneur.com/ Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=9&q=menagerie