Whispered "The beard is a disguise" (8)

I believe the answer is:

breathed

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'whispered' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'the beard is a disguise' is the wordplay.
'the beard' can be anagrammed to 'BREATHED'.
But, I am not sure how the anagram is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for breathed that I've seen before include "Inhaled and exhaled" , "was whispering" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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