Rating doing crossword and being forgiving (9)
I believe the answer is:
absolving
'being forgiving' is the definition.
'rating doing crossword' is the wordplay.
'rating' becomes 'ab'.
'doing crossword' becomes 'solving'.
'ab'+'solving'='ABSOLVING'
'and' is the link.
(Another definition for absolving that I've seen is " clearing".)
I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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