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nostrum

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nos⋅trum

  [nos-truhm]
Use nostrum in a Sentence
–noun
1. a medicine sold with false or exaggerated claims and with no demonstrable value; quack medicine.
2. a scheme, theory, device, etc., esp. 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; < L nostrum our, ours (neut. sing. of noster); referring to the seller's calling the drug “our” drug
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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NORDSTROM - Official Site
Shop apparel, shoes, beauty & more. Free Shipping on Orders Over $100!
www.nordstrom.com
Nostrum at Amazon
Low prices on new & used music. Qualified orders over $25 ship free
Amazon.com/music
nos·trum   (nŏs'trəm)   
n.  

  1. A medicine whose effectiveness is unproved and whose ingredients are usually secret; a quack remedy.

  2. A favorite but usually ineffective remedy for problems or evils.


[From Latin nostrum (remedium), our (remedy), neuter of noster; see nes-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

nostrum 
"quack medicine," 1602, 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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: nos·trum
Pronunciation: 'näs-tr&m
Function: noun
: a medicine of secret composition recommended by its preparer but usuallywithout scientific proof of its effectiveness
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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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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