those were his exact words

that Determiner

— Used to show which thing we are talking about; used with things that are not close to the speaker. Give me that book, not this one. Give me that, not this. That dog is hungry.

that Subordinator

— used to link a subordinate clause to a main one You said that you liked me. Give me the book that I dropped.

were Verb

— A form of the verb be used about the person you are talking to. Only you were doing it right. — A form of the verb be used about more than one person. We were going home. You all were staying late. They were all playing in the band. — A form of the verb be used with the word if. If I were rich, I would retire. — A form of the verb be used about things you wish for. I wish it were the weekend.

his Pronoun

— If you say something is his thing, you mean it belongs to a particular man or boy. It is his book, not mine. — His is used, instead of the name of an object, to refer to something belonging to a man or boy. It isn't my book, it is his.

exact Adjective

— If something is exact, it completely agrees with a statement, fact, or a truth; it fits perfectly. — If something is exact, it is clearly thought of or stated. — If someone is exact, they are careful to follow a rule, guideline, or promise; they are accurate; they are methodical.

exact Verb

— If someone exacts a payment from someone, they demand and enforce it. — If someone exacts something, they make it desirable; they need it. — If someone exacts something from someone, they get or make it by force.

words

— noun the words that are spoken I listened to his words very closely — noun (= lyric, language) the text of a popular song or musical-comedy number his compositions always started with the lyrics he wrote both words and music the song uses colloquial language — noun language that is spoken or written he has a gift for words she put her thoughts into words — noun (= speech) words making up the dialogue of a play the actor forgot his speech — noun (= quarrel) an angry dispute they had a quarrel they had words