Possible Clues:

• Passed on what was not so strong after the beginning of the month (8)
• Relaxed after a month passed
• Late last month became less tense
• Recently dead
• Aces, indeed, of late
• Defunct
• "That parrot is definitely __": line from a Monty Python sketch
• No longer with us, having relaxed after end of year
• Rising editor stopped dead
• Last month alleviated what's late