仙丹、萬靈藥

Question 1

panacea

Answer 1

panacea [ˌpænəˈsɪə]
(n) 萬靈藥
(MW) a remedy for all ills or difficulties: CURE-ALL
[源] pan- (all) + ace- (cure) ，即 cure-all。
[例] There isno easypanacea that will solve our complicated international situation.
[解] 從 “萬靈丹” 引申為 “解決問題的絕妙方法”。

Question 2

elixir

Answer 2

elixir [ɪˈlɪksɚ]
(n) 萬靈藥
(MW) CURE-ALL
[源] 原指 “長生不老藥”，現指 “萬靈丹”。
[例] So beautifulis this emotion that somescientists and poets regard it as theelixir of life and pursue it forno other reason.
[解] 從 “長生不老藥”的概念引申為給生命 “帶來活力的事物”，此用法為正面。

Question 3

nostrum

Answer 3

nostrum [ˈnɑstrəm]
(n) 祖傳秘方
(MW) a usuallyquestionable remedy orscheme: PANACEA <an audienceeager to believe he had found the nostrum for all of society’s ills >
[源] 字源是拉丁文 nostrum remedium (our remedy) ，江湖郎中的 “祖傳秘方”。
[例] No quack (庸醫、江湖郎中) selling nostrumsis going to cheat me.
[解] 這種 “祖傳祕方”的效力是被質疑的，為負面字。