nostrum
pronunciation
How to pronounce nostrum in British English:
UK [ˈnɒstrəm]
How to pronounce nostrum in American English:
US [ˈnɑstrəm]
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- Noun:
- hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists
- patent medicine whose efficacy is questionable
Word Origin
- nostrum (n.)
- "quack medicine," c. 1600, from Latin nostrum remedium "our remedy," presumably that prepared by the person offering it, from Latin nostrum, neuter of noster "our," from nos "we," from PIE *nos (see us).
Example
- 1. He told the patient that he had a nostrum .
- 2. National airlines using this airport include , iberia , air europa , air nostrum , and spanair .
- 3. Rather than condemn and punish , let 's try to understand and repair the old liberal nostrum .
- 4. Photography studio provide you with a few small nostrum you must use .
- 5. It might be salutory to consider how ' mare nostrum ' became part of the 20th century political vocabulary .