Was supported by and counted on (8)
I believe the answer is:
depended
'counted on' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with fundamental existence as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for depended that I've seen before include "Was conditional" , "Rested" , "Relied or hung on" .)