nostrum means A medicine or remedy in conventional use which has not been proven to have any desirable medical effects. It carries an Arena rating of 1722, earned across 6 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, nostrum ranks #52 of 13,220 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #1,969 of 13,220 for Most Elegant Words, #2,054 of 13,220 for Scariest Words, #2,329 of 13,220 for Funniest Words.
nostrum is pronounced /ˈnɒs.tɹəm/.
Why “nostrum” is a great word
A medicine or remedy, especially one prepared by its seller, that is promoted as a cure-all but lacks scientific proof of efficacy, or, by extension, any favorite but ineffective solution to a social or political problem. Its etymology is a learned borrowing from Latin *nostrum*, neuter of *noster* ("our, ours"), short for phrases like *nostrum remedium* ("our remedy"), first attested in English in the early 17th century. Unlike "panacea," which suggests an idealized universal cure, or "elixir," which evokes a magical potion of legend, a nostrum is a specific, often secret formula actively peddled in the real world. It is the dubious tonic hawked from a wagon, the political slogan sold as profound policy, and the simple, cherished answer offered for a complex, aching malady—the durable commerce of hope, bottled in faith alone.
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin nostrum (“ours”), nominative neuter of noster (“our, ours”).
noun
- A medicine or remedy in conventional use which has not been proven to have any desirable medical effects.“Near-synonyms: paternoster, patent medicine, snake oil”
- An ineffective but favorite remedy for a problem, usually involving political action.“reformers of church charities [...made] known […] their different nostrums for setting Hiram's Hospital on its feet again.”
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