Profess support (8)
I believe the answer is:
maintain
This clue is a double definition.
'profess' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'support' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
(Other definitions for maintain that I've seen before include "Conserve" , "Preserve or insist" , "Keep up - carry on" , "Keep in a certain state" , "finance" .)