nostrum
Use Nostrum in a sentence
trəm noun
1.
a medicine sold with false or exaggerated claims and with no demonstrable value; quack medicine.
2.
a scheme, theory, device, etc., especially one to remedy social or political ills; panacea.
3.
a medicine made by the person who recommends it.
4.
a patent medicine.
Origin:
1595–1605; < Latin nostrum our, ours (neuter singular of noster); referring to the seller's calling the drug “our” drug
1595–1605; < Latin nostrum our, ours (neuter singular of noster); referring to the seller's calling the drug “our” drug
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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|
Link To nostrum
00:10
Nostrum
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is inhibit. Does it mean:
| to restrain, hinder, arrest, or check; to prohibit or forbid |
| of speech, writing, etc. high-sounding; high-flown; inflated; pretentious. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
nostrum (ˈnɒstrəm) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a patent or quack medicine |
| 2. | a favourite remedy, as for political or social problems |
| [C17: from Latin: our own (make), from noster our] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
nostrum
"quack medicine," c.1600, from L. nostrum remedium "our remedy," presumably that prepared by the person offering it, from L. nostrum, neut. of noster "our," from nos "we," from PIE *nos (see us).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
nostrum nos·trum (nŏs'trəm)
n.
A medicine whose effectiveness is unproved and whose ingredients are usually secret; a quack remedy.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences
Compared to real professors who leave gallons of ink on their students' papers, virtual grading is a nostrum.
Cataracts develop following use of anti-fat nostrum.
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