less of
the idealizing, creative power than the _artist_. The sculptor, shaping
his model in clay, is _artificer_, as well as _artist_; patient
_artisans_, working simply by rule and scale, chisel and polish the
stone. The man who constructs anything by mere routine and rule is a
_mechanic_. The man whose work involves thought, skill, and constructive
power is an _artificer_. The hod-carrier is a _laborer_; the bricklayer
is a _mechanic_; the master mason is an _artificer_. Those who operate
machinery nearly self-acting are _operatives_.

* * * * *

ASK.

Synonyms:

beg, crave, entreat, petition, request, solicit,
beseech, demand, implore, pray, require, supplicate.

One _asks_ what he feels that he may fairly claim and reasonably expect;
"if a son shall _ask_ bread of any of you that is a father," _Luke_ xi,
11; he _begs_ for that to which he advances no claim but pity. _Demand_
is a determined and often an arrogant word; one may rightfully _demand_
what is his own or his due, when it is withheld or denied; or he may
wrongfully _demand_ that to which he has no claim but power. _Require_
is less arrogant and obtrusive than _demand_, but is exceedingly
strenuous; as, the court _requires_ the attendance of witnesses.
_Entreat_ implies a special earnestness of asking, and _beseech_, a
still added and more humble intensity; _beseech_ was formerly often used
as a polite intensive for _beg_ or _pray_; as, I _beseech_ you to tell
me. To _implore_ is to _ask_ with weeping and lamentation; to
_supplicate_ is to _ask_, as it were, on bended knees. _Crave_ and
_request_ are somewhat formal terms; _crave_ has almost disappeared from
conversation; _request_ would seem distant between parent and child.
_Pray_ is now used chiefly of address to the Supreme Being; _petition_
is used of written request to persons in authority; as, to _petition_
the legislature to pass an act, or the governor to pardon an offender.

Antonyms:

claim, deny, enforce, exact, extort, insist, refuse, reject.
command,

Prepositions:

Ask a person _for_ a thing; ask a thing _of_ or _from_ a person; ask
_after_ or _about_ one's health, welfare, friends, etc.

* * * * *

ASSOCIATE.

Synonyms:

accomplice, coadjutor, comrade, fellow, mate,
ally, colleague, confederate, friend, partner,
chum, companion, consort,