whis·pered

[hwis-perd, wis-]
adjective
rumored; reported: He is whispered to be planning to run for governor.

Origin:
1560–70; whisper + -ed2

half-whis·pered, adjective
qua·si-whis·pered, adjective
un·whis·pered, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged

whis·per

[hwis-per, wis-per]
verb (used without object)
1.
to speak with soft, hushed sounds, using the breath, lips, etc., but with no vibration of the vocal cords.
2.
Phonetics. to produce utterance substituting breath for phonation.
3.
to talk softly and privately (often implying gossip, slander, plotting, or the like): The king knew that the courtiers were whispering.
4.
(of trees, water, breezes, etc.) to make a soft, rustling sound like that of whispering.
verb (used with object)
5.
to utter with soft, low sounds, using the breath, lips, etc.: He whispered endearments to her.
6.
Phonetics. to utter (speech sounds) substituting breath for phonation.
7.
to say or tell in a whisper; tell privately.
8.
to speak to or tell (a person) in a whisper or privately.
noun
9.
the mode of utterance, or the voice, of a person who whispers: to speak in a whisper.
10.
a word or remark uttered by whispering.
11.
a rumor or insinuation: Whispers circulated about the affair.
12.
a soft, rustling sound like a whisper: the whisper of leaves in the wind.

Origin:
before 950; Middle English whisperen (v.), Old English hwisprian; cognate with German wispern; akin to Old Norse hviskra to whisper, hvīsla to whistle. See whine

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To whispered
00:10
Whispered is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
Collins
World English Dictionary
whisper (ˈwɪspə) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
1.  to speak or utter (something) in a soft hushed tone, esp without vibration of the vocal cords
2.  (intr) to speak secretly or furtively, as in promoting intrigue, gossip, etc
3.  (intr) (of leaves, trees, etc) to make a low soft rustling sound
4.  (tr) to utter or suggest secretly or privately: to whisper treason
 
n
5.  a low soft voice: to speak in a whisper
6.  something uttered in such a voice
7.  a low soft rustling sound
8.  a trace or suspicion
9.  informal a rumour or secret
 
[Old English hwisprian; related to Old Norse hvīskra, Old High German hwispalōn, Dutch wispern]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

whisper
O.E. hwisprian "speak very softly" (only in a Northumbrian gloss for L. murmurare), from P.Gmc. *khwis- (cf. M.Du. wispelen, O.H.G. hwispalon, Ger. wispeln, wispern, O.N. hviskra "to whisper"), imitative and probably related to O.E. hwistlian "to whistle." The noun is from 1596.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Forced whisper test is to first perceive a forced whispered voice, in one ear,
  at not less than five feet.
If the individual fails the whispered voice test, the audiometric test should
  be administered.
The whispered tales concerning her that had gone about town gave him confidence.
Whispered communications and whistles directed troop efforts.
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