nostrum
UK[ˈnɒstrəm]US[ˈnɑːstrəm]
n
a medicine whose contents are not known, that someone claims will cure an illness, but is probably not effective
n
a plan or idea for solving a problem, especially one that is not very good or that is based on false beliefs
Morpheme Breakdown
nostr
um
nostr
our
um
neuter noun suffix
Etymology
the word nostrum entered english in the early 17th century, directly from latin, where 'nostrum' is the neuter form of 'noster' (our). it literally means 'our own' or 'our thing'. this origin stems from the practice of quack doctors and patent medicine sellers who would tout their secret, often ineffective, remedies as 'our special preparation' to give an air of exclusivity and mystery. over time, the term broadened semantically from a dubious medicinal cure-all to describe any simplistic or fraudulent solution offered for a complex problem.
Analysis
Structure: nostr (our) + um (neuter noun suffix)
nostr is from the latin possessive adjective 'noster', meaning 'our'. um is a latin neuter singular ending used to form nouns.
Examples
the salesman traveled from town to town, peddling his herbal nostrum as a cure for every ache and pain.
many politicians offer quick nostrums for economic troubles, but real solutions are rarely so simple.
she was skeptical of the latest diet nostrum promoted by celebrities on social media.