Vocabulary Lesson 27 prestige – commanding position in people’s minds stress – to emphasize; accentuate stricture – an abnormal narrowing of a bodily passage constrict – to compress, squeeze unrestrained – uncontrolled, freed from stringent – marked by money scarcity and credit strictness; strict distress – a state of danger or desperate need constrain – to secure by bonds or ties restraint – a control over the expression of one’s emotions or thoughts straits – a situation of perplexity or trouble