Chapter VIII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

associated with academia or an academy

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

later than; following

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

in the past

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

Having no one else present.

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading The critics were voluble, as they always are; diverse, as they always are; variously ill-informed--and, in the issue, proved quite wrong.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The critics were voluble, as they always are; diverse, as they always are; variously ill-informed--and, in the issue, proved quite wrong.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading The Government Contracts were enough to make certain of that.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

law determining the fundamental political principles of a government

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

plural of “contract” — a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law

From this reading The Government Contracts were enough to make certain of that.

plural of “controller” — someone who maintains and audits business accounts

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

plural of “critic” — a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art

From this reading The critics were voluble, as they always are; diverse, as they always are; variously ill-informed--and, in the issue, proved quite wrong.

plural of “debenture” — the ability of a customer to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

plural of “department” — a specialized division of a large organization

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

many and different

From this reading The critics were voluble, as they always are; diverse, as they always are; variously ill-informed--and, in the issue, proved quite wrong.

a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading The Government Contracts were enough to make certain of that.

plural of “fool” — a person who lacks good judgment

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

being ten more than thirty

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

-ing form of “gallop” — ride at a galloping pace

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading The Government Contracts were enough to make certain of that.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

a long narrow furrow cut either by a natural process (such as erosion) or by a tool (as e.g. a groove in a phonograph record)

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The critics were voluble, as they always are; diverse, as they always are; variously ill-informed--and, in the issue, proved quite wrong.

not based on fact; existing only in the imagination

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The critics were voluble, as they always are; diverse, as they always are; variously ill-informed--and, in the issue, proved quite wrong.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

prepare and issue for public distribution or sale

From this reading The critics were voluble, as they always are; diverse, as they always are; variously ill-informed--and, in the issue, proved quite wrong.

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

engage in

From this reading The Government Contracts were enough to make certain of that.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Government Contracts were enough to make certain of that.

out of fashion

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

possession of controlling influence

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

established beyond doubt

From this reading The critics were voluble, as they always are; diverse, as they always are; variously ill-informed--and, in the issue, proved quite wrong.

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading The critics were voluble, as they always are; diverse, as they always are; variously ill-informed--and, in the issue, proved quite wrong.

having confidence restored; freed from anxiety

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

the rotating armature of a motor or generator

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

the act of spending or disbursing money

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

not in physical motion

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

status with respect to the relations between people or groups

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The Government Contracts were enough to make certain of that.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The critics were voluble, as they always are; diverse, as they always are; variously ill-informed--and, in the issue, proved quite wrong.

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

in an exhaustive manner

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The Government Contracts were enough to make certain of that.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

the funds of a government or institution or individual

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

in diverse ways

From this reading The critics were voluble, as they always are; diverse, as they always are; variously ill-informed--and, in the issue, proved quite wrong.

precisely as stated

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

marked by a ready flow of speech

From this reading The critics were voluble, as they always are; diverse, as they always are; variously ill-informed--and, in the issue, proved quite wrong.

a guardian or defender against theft or illegal practices or waste

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The Government Contracts were enough to make certain of that.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

which person or people

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

in a willing manner

From this reading The public came after those debentures very kindly, very willingly; as kindly and willingly as cows galloping into a new pasture.

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading The House had left them alone as a matter of course, and the Service Departments were thoroughly reassured; now that--as their controllers knew--the two great names of the Rotor world were working together.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading The critics were voluble, as they always are; diverse, as they always are; variously ill-informed--and, in the issue, proved quite wrong.

a late time of life

From this reading Those who had said that there would be opposition in the House were obviously wrong; they didn’t know what they were talking about; they were thinking in terms of an imaginary House of Commons long ago: old-fashioned academic fools like the editor (and owner) of _The City_, who had run in their groove for forty years and still talked of the “Constitution,” “the Watchdog at the Treasury,” “the great spending departments,” “the power of the Purse.”