Crossword Genius

Promise of spring before end of June? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hope

'promise' is the definition.
('hope' can be a synonym of 'promise')

'spring before end of june?' is the wordplay.
'spring' becomes 'hop' (I've seen this before**).
'before' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'end of' says to take the final letters.
The last letter of 'june' is 'e'.
'hop'+'e'='HOPE'

'of' is the link.

(Other definitions for hope that I've seen before include "Anticipation" , "Cherish a desire" , "'. . . . springs eternal in the human breast'" , "Expect and desire" , "Aspiration" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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