nostrum
[ nos-truh m ]
/ ˈnɒs trəm /
noun
a medicine sold with false or exaggerated claims and with no demonstrable value; quack medicine.
a scheme, theory, device, etc., especially one to remedy social or political ills; panacea.
a medicine made by the person who recommends it.
a patent medicine.
Origin of nostrum
1595–1605; < Latin
nostrum our, ours (neuter singular of
noster); referring to the seller's calling the drug “our” drug
Words nearby nostrum
nostomania,
nostradamus,
nostril,
nostro account,
nostromo,
nostrum,
nosy,
nosy parker,
not,
not a bad sort,
not a bit
Definition for nostrum (2 of 2)
mare nostrum
[ mah-re nohs-troo m; English mair-ee nos-truh m, mahr-ey ]
/ ˈmɑ rɛ ˈnoʊs trʊm; English ˈmɛər i ˈnɒs trəm, ˈmɑr eɪ /
noun Latin.
our sea, especially the Mediterranean to the ancient Romans.
Example sentences from the Web for nostrum
British Dictionary definitions for nostrum (1 of 2)
nostrum
/ (ˈnɒstrəm) /
noun
a patent or quack medicine
a favourite remedy, as for political or social problems
Word Origin for nostrum
C17: from Latin: our own (make), from
noster our
British Dictionary definitions for nostrum (2 of 2)
Word Origin for mare nostrum
literally: our sea
Medical definitions for nostrum
nostrum
[ nŏs′trəm ]
n.
A medicine whose effectiveness is unproved and whose ingredients are usually secret; a quack remedy.