In crowd Treebeard for one holds out (8)
I believe the answer is:
presents
'holds out' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with fundamental existence as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'in crowd treebeard for one' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'crowd' becomes 'press' (to press can mean to crowd around).
'treebeard for one' becomes 'ent' (I've seen this in another clue).
'press' placed around 'ent' is 'PRESENTS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for presents that I've seen before include "Introduces" , "Hands over the gifts" , "donations" , "Offerings" , "Awards formally" .)