Said case of spirits to be missing (4)

I believe the answer is:

oral

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'said' is the definition.
(both can mean spoken)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for oral that I've seen before include "Mouth-related" , "Ant; tourist (dial.)" , "language exam" , "By word of mouth, like some exams" , "'Spoken, not written (4)'" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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