A pleading in common law denying an allegation of fact in an adversary's pleading or contesting that the adversary lacked adequate knowledge to make such an allegation in the first place. See also denial. general traverse. A flat denial of all of the allegations in the pleadings of one's adversary. special traverse. A denial of one alleged fact that is not absolute, but that seeks to explain it away or qualify it by virtue of special circumstances, such as an inducement that can be verified