Offering favour without initially intending good (8)

I believe the answer is:

oblation

'offering' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Ritual offering' mean 'oblation' so perhaps 'offering' could also mean 'oblation')

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for oblation that I've seen before include "To Albion, with an offering to the divine" , "Offering to divinity" , "Religious or charitable offering" , "Ritual offering" , "Part of Eucharist" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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