Crossword Genius

Crime engendering much heatedness (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

arson

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

'crime' is the definition.
(crime of illegally starting a fire)

'engendering much heatedness' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'much' could be 'so' (similar in meaning) and 'so' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'arn' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for arson that I've seen before include "Fire-lighting crime" , "Act of a pyromaniac" , "Illegally firing" , "Pyromaniac crime" , "Criminal pyromania" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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