Definition of the day - Annulus

'Twas a toroidal day
When the wind came to play
And surrounded the hay
In a tornado's way.

While standing, wary,
With my dictionary
I discovered that this
Is an annulus.

But I'd rather have a donut any day.

-->For my inspiration and the correct usage of the abused words, see below.

annulus (noun) A toroidal shape.

-->How enlightening! *Taps dictionary*

to·roi·dal [taw-roid-l, toh-, tawr-oi-dl, tohr-] (adjective) Geometry - of or pertaining to a torus.

-->No, not Taurus... sadly... that would be too easy.

to·roid (tôr'oid', tōr'-) n. [tor(us) + -oid.]
1. Mathematics

1. A surface generated by a closed curve rotating about, but not intersecting or containing, an axis in its own plane.
2. A solid having such a surface.

2. A body having the shape of a toroid.

-->Ooh, annulus also has to do with fairy rings and the ring-shaped remnants of mushroom tops! The things we learn when we pay attention to the "word of the day" generator.

Galumphing Thespian

A thespian went galumphing
Along a frosty road,
And encountered a snowman
With a startling orange nose.
Posing at the roadside,
This thespian surveyed
And offered mocking comments
Before going on his way.
Hence this galumphing thespian
Had nought to say, but this:
Galumph in tread but not in word,
For snowmen do not miss.

littoral

I have rarely been to the strand of the beach
caught between times where the waters reach,
collecting littoral shells, touched by gentle breeze
and bathed in the sound of the rushing seas.

Glabrous

Ok, so this my new entertainment of the week... It's educational, so live with it. *grin*

Glabrous. I'd love an opportunity to use this word in speech! It's fun to say.

A poem.

Upon the gleaming pointed chin
There lay no downy hair
In fact, the very top of him
Was just as smooth and fair
Of glabrous
On his head, you see,
He is the epitome.

Contumely

Have you ever encountered a contumely person? *laugh* Of course, most teachers would use this word of their students every day. It seems that teens, especially, have a contumely nature; but we are all capable of it.
Yes, I will admit that I, too, have been contumely. When I find myself opposed and I believe I'm more than right, it is very easy to portray this attitude. It's far too easy to consider others as peons when I think more of myself than I ought.

Philippians 2:3 makes mention of one way to battle contumeliness.

Do nothing through vanity or desire to win, but value each others' interests as higher than your own.

(I rephrased it a bit in an attempt to understand it better, so don't quote this. Go to the book.)

So, what does contumely mean?

Pleonasm

It seems, upon this salubrious day, that there are words I have not yet encountered. So, because I found the word of the day, today, particularly fascinating, I have decided to illustrate and define it for your entertainment.

This word actually has a meaning, which you will find enlightening, for it is a word of most unique and interesting substance; one which could be used often while reading or even listening to a vociferous speech, for it has to do with words...in fact, it has to do with the use of vocabulary to the extent of expanding on a subject, any topic, with phraseology either excessive, repetitive or interminable.

Can you guess what the definition of pleonasm is?

Here's a hint: It comes from the same root as plenty.