Crossword Genius

Pardon four caught inside blacksmith's workshop (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

forgive

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

'pardon' is the definition.
(I know that pardon is a more specific form of forgive)

'four caught inside blacksmith's workshop' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'four' could be 'iv' (Roman numerals) and 'iv' is found within the answer.
'blacksmith's workshop' could be 'forge' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'forge' is present in the leftover letters.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for forgive that I've seen before include "free of blame" , "Excuse (an offence)" , "Pardon" , "Absolve" , "Condone" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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