Master HESI A2 Vocabulary List

abhorrence

Despising something or someone

abrasion

An area that is sore, scraped, or rubbed away

abrupt

Sudden or unexpected

abscess

A swollen, inflamed area in bodily tissues, in which pus gathers is called an abscess.

abstain

To choose not to do or have something or to refrain deliberately

abstemious

Someone who abstains or is moderate, often specifically in their consumption of food and beverage.

abundance

A situation in which there is more than enough of something.

access

Permission, liberty, or the ability to enter, approach, or pass to and from a place or to approach or communicate with a person or thing

accountable

Subject to the obligation to report, explain, or justify something

acumen

Keenness and depth of perception

acute

Sharpness or severity of sudden onset

addictive

A drug or substance that causes or is likely to cause someone to develop a compulsive, harmful need towards such substance.

adequate

Sufficient for a specific need or requirement

adhere

To stick or be attached firmly to a surface.

adulation

Excessive admiration or praise.

adverse

Having a negative or harmful effect on something

aegis

Protection; support

affably

Pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to

affect

To cause illness, symptoms

affect (influence)

To have an influence on someone or something, or to cause a change in someone or something.

aggrieved

Unhappy and angry because of unfair treatment.

aid/aide

To give assistance

alcohol

A clear liquid that can produce drunkeness, also used as a solvent.

allude

To refer casually or indirectly

ambiance

A feeling or mood associated with a particular place, person, or thing

ambiguous

Someone or something that is unclear or not easily describable.

ambivalent

Someone who has mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

amenable

Someone willing to accept or be influenced by a suggestion

anabolism

The constructive part of metabolism concerned especially with macromolecular synthesis.

analgesic

Something used to stop people from feeling pain, or relating to the stopping of pain.

annual

Occurring or happening every year or once a year

antacid

A substance used to reduce or prevent acid collecting in the body, especially in the stomach.

anterior

Something that is positioned at or toward the front.

antibiotic

A medicine or chemical that can destroy harmful bacteria in the body or limit their growth.

anticipate

To realize beforehand

anticoagulant

A drug or other substance that prevents or slows down the process of blood forming a clot

antihistamines

A type of drug that is used to treat medical conditions caused by an extreme reaction to particular substances.

antithesis

A contrary or opposite opinion, concept, or characteristic

antitussive

A drug used to prevent or relieve a cough.

anuria

The absence or suppression of urine.

apathetic

Someone who shows or feels no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

applicable

Applying or capable of being applied

apply

To request something, usually officially, especially in writing or by sending in a form.

aptitude

A natural ability or skill.

assent

An act of agreeing to something especially after thoughtful consideration

assess

To determine the rate or amount of (something, such as a tax, charge, or fine)

assessment

The act of judging or deciding the amount, value, quality, or importance of something

assiduous

Someone who shows hard work, care, and attention to detail

assured

Guaranteed

astute

Someone who is able to understand a situation quickly and see how to take advantage of it.

ATEB

Award Term Evaluation Board

audible

Capable of being heard; loud enough to be heard; actually heard

augment

To make something greater by adding to it.

auscultate

To examine by auscultation

auspiciously

In a way that suggests a positive and successful future.

barren

Land that is too poor to produce much or any vegetation.

benevolent

Characterized by or given to doing good.

benign

Pleasant and kind; not harmful or severe

bifurcate

To divide or fork into two branches

bilateral

Relating to, or affecting the right and left sides of the body or the right and left members of paired organs

bland

Someone or something that lacks strong features or characteristics and is therefore uninteresting

blister

A painful swelling on the skin that contains liquid, caused usually by continuous rubbing, especially on your foot, or by burning.

boisterous

Rough and noisy

boorish

Someone who is rude and not considerate of other people's feelings.

brazen

Shameless or impudent

breathe

draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs

burgeoning

Something that is growing or developing quickly.

candid

Someone or something that is honest and telling the truth, especially about something difficult or painful.

cantankerous

Difficult or irritating to deal with

capricious

Indicative of a sudden, odd notion or unpredictable change; erratic

carbuncle

A painful local purulent inflammation of the skin and deeper tissues with multiple openings for the discharge of pus and usually necrosis and sloughing of dead tissue

cardiac

Of, near, or affecting the heart

cavity

A hollowed-out space

cease

To stop, discontinue, or come to an end

cholesterol

A substance found in the body tissue and blood of all animals, which contains a high amount of fat and is thought to be a contributing factor to heart disease when present in excessive amounts

chronology

The arrangement of events, dates, etc. in the order of occurrence

cicatrix

New tissue that forms over a wound and later contracts into a scar.

circuitous

Having a circular or winding course

circumduction

movement of a limb or extremity so that the distal end describes a circle while the proximal end remains fixed

cognition

Cognition is the process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.

collateral

A branch of a bodily part (such as a vein)

compensatory

Serving to compensate, such as for loss, lack, or injury.

compiled

Gathered together especially from various sources

complication

A difficult factor or issue often appearing unexpectedly and changing existing plans, methods, or attitudes

concave

Curved like a segment of the interior of a circle or hollow sphere

concise

Expressing or covering much in few words

concomitant

Existing or occurring with something else

confines

Something (such as borders or walls) that encloses

congestive

Something related to or affected by an abnormal collection of blood or other fluids.

consistent

Holding together; firm; solid

constrict

To make narrow or draw together

construct

A construct is a subjective idea or theory.

contemplate

To contemplate is to spend time considering a possible future action, or to consider one particular thing for a long time in a serious and quiet way.

contingent

Dependent on or conditioned by something else

contour

An outline especially of a curving or irregular figure

contract

A binding agreement between two or more persons or parties

contraindications

Something (such as a symptom or condition) that makes a particular treatment or procedure inadvisable

convalescence

A gradual healing process or a time of rest and relaxation, usually after an illness

convulsion

An abnormal violent and involuntary contraction or series of contractions of the muscles

covert

Concealed or disguised