Like a Flower, When it's Done

I learned a new word at work today, and I've already forgotten it.

Around 5:30 an engineer dropped by our area, took one look at me, and said "L'Americaine est (word I don't remember)".

I squinted at him and said, "The American is huh?"

He said "You don't know this word?"

All around me people started flipping through dictionaries. He said "You know, like a flower, when it's done".

Normally I'd take a comparison to a flower as a compliment, but this didn't sound like "delicate" or "cheery".

I said "wilted"? And pointed to the word in my own dictionary.

"No, no, that's not it."

"Defeated", the intern offered.

I looked at him and said "Thanks, man."

Others joined in, suggesting worn out, exhausted, "only works and sleeps"...all the while I nodded and said "yeah, thanks, that's great."

Eric looked up from his dictionary and announced "wasted away".

"That's it!" the engineer said triumphantly. "Wasted away!"

He was rather proud of himself, and when I looked a little skeptical he asked, "Is that not right in English?"

I said "Well, I'd use the term 'wasted away' if perhaps I hadn't eaten in three months".

Then I got a lesson in the different layers of language, how Americans use only the first layer (the more serious "wasted away"), whereas most French people speak about the second layer. What is this about layers, and why hasn't Gil told me about it?

Well whatever, they'd all be wasted away too if they were up until 1:00 a.m. last night reading Harry Potter.