optimes
/ˈɑptɪmiːz/
noun
- Students who achieve the second-highest rank in an examination or class, especially at Cambridge University.
- The optimes received their results with relief, knowing they had done well but not quite top of the class.
- At Cambridge, students are divided into wranglers, optimes, and poll men based on their exam performance.
- She was proud to be named among the optimes in her mathematics tripos.