Karl Yeager

Ok. Good point. But the purring makes up for it. Plus free heat

You make it sound like a bad thing.

As others have stated, it is because in the adjective form (such a withering rain or gunfire) the object (rain, fire, etc.) is causing the withering (dying off) of the subject (plants, etc). A similar word, wurthering, in adjective form describes a strong forceful object affecting the subject.

The American version is just as bad and pigheaded.

With that, I have to apologize to pigs about being compared to rude Americans.

LOL. I was thinking of the most usual complaints I’ve heard from the stereotypes. And someone starting from a polite beginning is always better. I’ve always tried to at least learn, “I don’t speak your language. Do you speak English?” in the dominate language of the area I’m visiting.

I would say, how do you wish stereotypical American tourists would act and do in France instead of being asses? Me, I would do like others have said, try the local language and let them take pity on me for my horrendous pronunciation.

Kzinti