The article I had as support (3)
I believe the answer is:
aid
'support' is the definition.
(to aid is to help or support)
'the article i had' is the wordplay.
'the article' becomes 'a' (English indefinite article).
'i had' becomes 'i'd' (contraction).
'a'+'id'='AID'
'as' is the link.
(Other definitions for aid that I've seen before include "welfare" , "Help. Assist" , "Auxiliary" , "Relief" , "technique that can produce pregnancy" .)