Point to pet I claim is abandoned (9)
I believe the answer is:
implicate
'point' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with fundamental existence as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'pet i claim is abandoned' is the wordplay.
'is abandoned' indicates anagramming the letters (the original order is abandoned).
'pet'+'i'+'claim'='peticlaim'
'peticlaim' anagrammed gives 'IMPLICATE'.
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for implicate that I've seen before include "Involve in a crime, give evidence accordingly" , "Suggest involvement" , "Grass up" , "Point finger at criminal" , "Suggest someone is involved or took part in a crime" .)