At one point in the book Pale Horse Rider Mark Jacobson describes the scene in Oliver Stone’s JFK where crusading DA Jim Garrison (Keven Costner) gets a crash course in conspiracy theories from Mr. X (Donald Sutherland) while they sit on a bench with a view of the Washington Monument. Painting a picture of the setting, Jacobson has them “dwarfed by the upward thrust of the lingamic monument.”
I’ve often heard the Washington Monument described as “phallic” but “lingamic” was a new one for me. For once, a knowledge of Greek or Latin won’t help you. The word derives from the Sanskrit lingam, which is an aniconic phallic representation traditionally worshipped as a symbol of or in connection with Shiva. Or, in a secondary meaning, it’s a penis. So basically the word means phallic. But it’s most often used in reference to religious statuary: “a short cylindrical pillar-like symbol of Shiva, made of stone, metal, gem, wood, clay or precious stones.” These pillars also usually have a circular base, which the Washington Monument does have if you see it from above.
I suspect Jacobson just wanted to avoid the cliché of a phallic Washington Monument so he went with a word that had a more exotic flavour. And he certainly got that, as I don’t think lingamic is an adjective you see used very often. And I can’t say I’ll be adopting it anytime soon myself.
Alex Good 
I don’t think I’d be finding a use for it either. But, I like the sound of it better than phallic, so I’ll bear it in mind just in case.
LikeLike
If you don’t impress people you can at least confuse them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, learning new things left and right today!
LikeLike
And knowing is 99/100 of the battle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In cases like this, it certainly is.
Unfortunately, Cobra Commander would just smash the monument with one of his super weapons that he only uses once.
LikeLike
The Joe Team would have to get some payback for that. In a very family-friendly sort of way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’d lecture Cobra until he cried and admitted he was wrong. Then they’d take his henchmen to jail while Cobra escaped in yet another gadget 🙂
LikeLike
I saw Webster’s defending “irregardless” the other day, but I think I’ll leave both of them out of my personal lexicon.
LikeLike
It’s interesting to note how the misuse of words gradually gets adopted and normalized. Language is bread thrown on the waters.
LikeLike