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Wednesday August 19, 2009

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nostrum [NOS-truhm]

noun

1. A medicine of secret composition and unproven effectiveness; a quack medicine.
2. An often suggested, questionable remedy.

• The Earth's temperatures generally have not changed in the last eight years; and the polar ice cap, rising oceans, and the health and weather horror stories that have been used to frighten the world into harebrained self-inflicted economic wounds and nostrums have been scientifically debunked.
  Conrad Black, "Tired lefties on parade", National Post, Jul 4, 2009
• In his exhibitions he would allow a cobra to bite a dog or a rabbit, and, in a short time after he had applied his nostrum the animal would thoroughly revive; he advertised his desire to perform upon humanity, but, of course, he could find no one would be fool enough to risk his life so unnecessarily.
  Harry Houdini (1874 - 1926) A Jewish-Hungarian-American magician and escapologist. The Miracle Mongers, an Expos (1920)
• But for the most part, audiences aren't connecting with the stars this summer. Although it may be too early to know whether the weak reception will prompt the studios to rely less heavily on high-cost actors in big-budget movies as a linchpin of their summer strategy, some executives acknowledge they are reevaluating old nostrums.
  Claudia Eller, "A season of star-studded flops", Los Angeles Times, Jun 29, 2009

Origin of the Word

Nostrum, approximately 1602, derives from Latin nostrum remedium "our remedy," presumably that prepared by the person offering it, neuter of noster "our," from nos "we."