An honor or award given to a student or competitor who comes very close to winning first prize but doesn't quite achieve it; an honorable mention.
From Latin 'accessit' meaning 'he/she came near to' or '(almost) came close.' Used in educational institutions, especially at British universities and schools, as a Latin term for near-winners.
At Oxford and Cambridge, students get 'accessits' as nearly-won prizes, which is both kind and cruel—it's a polite way of saying 'you were really close but didn't make it.' Very British!
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