lingam means the aniconic phallic representation traditionally worshipped as a symbol of or in connection with Shiva. It carries an Arena rating of 1363, earned across 5 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, lingam ranks #974 of 17,132 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #3,059 of 17,149 for Most Exacting Words, #3,274 of 17,127 for Most Vivid Words, #3,716 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words.
Why “lingam” is a great word
LINGAM — [Noun] An aniconic, often phallic-shaped emblem, traditionally worshipped in Hinduism as a symbol of the god Shiva. Its name is a learned borrowing from Sanskrit लिङ्गम् (liṅgam), nominative singular of लिङ्ग (liṅga, "sign, mark, characteristic"). Unlike a "phallus," which denotes the anatomical organ, or an "idol," which typically presents an anthropomorphic figure, a lingam is a venerated abstraction—a signifier of divine, generative power rather than its physical form. It is the smooth, cylindrical stone rising from the yoni's disc in a temple's sanctum, the river-worn rock anointed with milk and flowers, or the simple mound of earth at a wayside shrine. It is not an image of a god, but the manifest mark of an invisible presence.
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Sanskrit लिङ्गम् (liṅgam, nominative singular of लिङ्ग (liṅga, “sign, mark”)).
noun
- The aniconic phallic representation traditionally worshipped as a symbol of or in connection with Shiva.
- The penis.e.g.“Then when his lingam is erect he should touch her with his hands in various places, and gently manipulate various parts of the body.” — 1883, Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl. and editor, Karma Sutra:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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