First in college, learner with highest place — being this? (9)
I believe the answer is:
cleverest
'this?' is the definition.
The definition and answer are not the same part of speech.
'first in college learner with highest place' is the wordplay.
'first in' suggests taking the first letters.
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'highest place' becomes 'everest' (Everest is an example. I am not sure about the 'highest' bit.**).
The initial letters of 'college learner' is 'cl'.
'cl'+'everest'='CLEVEREST'
'being' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cleverest that I've seen before include "of superlative brilliance" , "Brighter than others" , "Smartest" , "most able" .)