article
To sign a formal contract to work or train for someone for a specific time.
Explanation at your level:
This is a hard word. It means to sign a paper to work for someone for a long time.
You use this when someone signs a contract to learn a job from a master.
It describes a formal agreement. It is often used in history when talking about apprentices.
In law, it means to list items formally. It is a very formal verb, not used in daily talk.
The verb 'article' implies a legal commitment. It is distinct from 'hiring' because it implies a structured, often long-term, apprenticeship.
Etymologically, it connects to 'joint'. It denotes the formalization of duties into distinct sections. Rarely used outside of legal history.
واژه در 30 ثانیه
- Rare verb
- Means to bind by contract
- Legal/Historical context
- Passive voice usage
When we use article as a verb, we are stepping into the world of formal agreements. It describes the process of binding someone by a written contract, which was historically common for apprentices learning a trade.
Think of it as a formal indenture. You aren't just starting a job; you are legally tethered to a master for a fixed period. In legal settings, it also means to break down a long list into specific, numbered points or charges.
The word stems from the Latin articulus, meaning a 'small joint' or 'part.' Over time, it evolved to describe individual items in a document, eventually becoming the 'articles' of a contract.
By the Middle Ages, it was used to describe the indentures signed by apprentices. It is fascinating how a word for a 'joint' in the body became a word for a 'joint' in a legal document!
You will rarely hear this as a verb in casual conversation. It is almost exclusively used in legal or historical contexts. You might see it in a sentence like 'The clerk was articled to the solicitor.'
Commonly, it appears in the passive voice. It is a very formal register, so avoid using it in everyday emails or chats.
While the verb form is specific, it relates to the noun 'article'. 1. Article of faith: A firm belief. 2. A tough article: A difficult person. 3. The genuine article: The real thing. 4. In the article of death: At the point of dying. 5. Articles of war: Military regulations.
As a verb, it follows regular patterns: article, articled, articled, articling. Pronunciation is ˈɑːrtɪkəl. Stress is on the first syllable. It rhymes with 'particle' and 'barbicle'.
Fun Fact
It once referred to the joints in a finger.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'ar' sound.
R-colored vowel.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'artic-le'
- Missing the middle syllable
- Stress on second syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Formal
Formal
Archaic
Formal
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
پیشرفته
Grammar to Know
Passive Voice
He was articled.
Examples by Level
He was articled to a baker.
He signed a contract to learn baking.
Passive voice.
The law student was articled to a firm.
He served his time as an articled clerk.
The prosecutor articled the charges against the defendant.
The apprentice was articled for seven years.
The solicitor articled his son to the senior partner.
ترکیبهای رایج
Idioms & Expressions
"The genuine article"
The real thing
This watch is the genuine article.
casual"A tough article"
A difficult person
Don't argue with him; he's a tough article.
casualEasily Confused
Similar root
Articulate means to speak clearly.
He is articulate.
Same spelling
Noun is an object/writing.
Read the article.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + was + articled + to + Person/Firm
He was articled to the firm.
خانواده کلمه
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
مرتبط
How to Use It
2
Formality Scale
اشتباهات رایج
It sounds too legal/archaic.
The verb is very rare.
Tips
Passive Voice
It is almost always used in the passive.
Read History
Find it in old books.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Art-i-cle: Art (skill) + i (I) + cle (clear). I learn a clear skill.
Visual Association
A quill pen signing a long scroll.
Word Web
چالش
Write a historical sentence using the word.
ریشه کلمه
Latin
Original meaning: Small joint
بافت فرهنگی
None
Associated with Victorian-era legal practices.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Legal History
- Articled clerk
- Under articles
Apprenticeship
- Bound by articles
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever heard of an articled clerk?"
"Do you know the history of apprenticeships?"
Journal Prompts
Write a story about an apprentice in the 1800s.
سوالات متداول
8 سوالYes, but it is rare.
No, usually for apprenticeships.
The noun is, but the verb is different.
Yes, very.
Yes, 'articled'.
It would sound very strange.
Latin 'articulus'.
Rarely, mostly in historical contexts.
خودت رو بسنج
He was ___ to the law firm.
Passive voice requires past participle.
What does it mean to article someone?
It refers to a binding contract.
The verb 'article' is common in casual speech.
It is very formal.
Word
معنی
Matches definition.
Standard passive structure.
امتیاز: /5
Summary
To 'article' someone is to formally bind them to a contract of service.
- Rare verb
- Means to bind by contract
- Legal/Historical context
- Passive voice usage
Context is Key
Only use this for legal apprenticeships.
Passive Voice
It is almost always used in the passive.
Read History
Find it in old books.
مثال
She was articled to a firm of solicitors in London for three years to complete her qualification.
Related Content
در ویدیوها ببینید
10:00
Why Did London Try to Ban Shark Sculptures?
19:45
You’re Passing Way Too Many Arguments (and How to Fix It)
"She was articled to a firm of solicitors in London for three years to complete her qualification."
2:11
How we treated AI in 2023 vs 2026
"She was articled to a firm of solicitors in London for three years to complete her qualification."
این کلمه در زبانهای دیگر
واژههای بیشتر Language
abbreviate
C1کوتاه کردن یه کلمه یا متن با حذف کردن بعضی از حرفها. این کار رو معمولاً برای صرفهجویی در فضا یا نوشتنِ سریعتر انجام میدیم.
ablative
B2A grammatical case used in certain languages, such as Latin, to indicate movement away from, the source, or the instrument of an action. In English, these meanings are typically expressed using prepositions like 'from', 'with', or 'by' rather than specific noun endings.
abphonure
C1A technical term in linguistics and phonetics referring to the intentional or accidental distortion of speech sounds, leading to a loss of phonetic clarity or a shift in meaning. It is often used to describe the degradation of sound quality in specific acoustic environments or the stylistic blurring of words in poetry and song.
abregous
C1To summarize or condense a complex argument, document, or process into its most essential components. This verb is typically used when the goal is to provide clarity or speed up decision-making without losing the core meaning.
abridge
C1کوتاه کردن یه متن، کتاب یا سخنرانی با حذف بخشهای غیرضروری، طوری که مفهوم اصلی حفظ بشه. گاهی هم برای محدود کردن حقوق یا امتیازات ازش استفاده میشه.
accentuation
B2The act of emphasizing something or making it more prominent and noticeable to the observer. It also refers to the placement of marks or stress on specific syllables in linguistics to indicate correct pronunciation.
acerbic
C1روش صحبت یا نوشتن تند و انتقادی. از هوش برای نیش زدن استفاده میکند.
acrimonious
C1پر از خشم و تلخی، مخصوصاً در صحبتها یا روابط. مشاجرات خصمانه را توصیف میکند.
acronym
B2مخفف یا آکرونیم به کلمهای گفته میشود که از کنار هم قرار گرفتن حروف اول چند کلمه ساخته شده و مثل یک کلمه عادی خوانده میشود، مثل ناسا.
adage
C1یه جمله کوتاه و قدیمی که یه حقیقت کلی یا یه نصیحت رو بر اساس تجربه نشون میده.
