NOSTRUM

nostrum

(noun) patent medicine whose efficacy is questionable

panacea, nostrum, catholicon, cure-all

(noun) hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

nostrum (plural nostrums or nostra)

A medicine or remedy in conventional use which has not been proven to have any desirable medical effects.

An ineffective but favorite remedy for a problem, usually involving political action.

Coordinate terms

• cure-all

• panacea

• patent medicine

• snake oil

Anagrams

• Urmston

Source: Wiktionary

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Nos"trum n.; pl. Nostrums. Etym: [Neut. sing. of L. noster ours, fr. nos we. See Us.]

1. A medicine, the ingredients of which are kept secret for the purpose of restricting the profits of sale to the inventor or proprietor; a quack medicine.

2. Any scheme or device proposed by a quack. The incentives of agitators, the arts of impostors and the nostrums of quacks. Brougham.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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