Took exception to profits and material help (8)
I believe the answer is:
gainsaid
'took exception' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'profits and material help' is the wordplay.
'profits' becomes 'gains' ('gain' can be a synonym of 'profit').
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'material help' becomes 'aid' ('aid' can be a synonym of 'help'. I am not sure about the 'material' bit.**).
'gains'+'aid'='GAINSAID'
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for gainsaid that I've seen before include "Challenged" , "Formally denied or contradicted" .)