Definitions for: Nostrum

[n] patent medicine whose efficacy is questionable
[n] hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists

Webster (1913) Definition: Nos"trum (-tr[u^]m), n.; pl. Nostrums (-tr[u^]mz).
[Neut. sing. of L. noster ours, fr. nos we. See Us.]
1. A medicine, the ingredients of which are kept secret for
the purpose of restricting the profits of sale to the
inventor or proprietor; a quack medicine.

2. Any scheme or device proposed by a quack.

The incentives of agitators, the arts of impostors
and the nostrums of quacks. --Brougham.

Synonyms: cure-all, panacea

See Also: curative, cure, elixir, patent medicine, remedy

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