Crossword Genius

Motive for arson out East? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

reason

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'motive' is the definition.
(I know that reason is a type of rational motive)

'arson out east?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'east?' could be 'e' (abbreviation) and 'e' is located in the answer.
an anagram of 'arson' is 'rason' which is present in the left over letters.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'for' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for reason that I've seen before include "Think in a logical way" , "Logic and rationality" , "Sanity, the ability to think" , "Employ logic" , "Cause; mind's power" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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