in pleading, a denial that implies an affirmation of a substantial fact and hence is beneficial to the opponent. Thus, when only a qualification or modification is denied while the fact itself remains undenied, the denial is pregnant with an affirmation of that fact.
LITERAL DENIAL if the complaint alleges that the defendant was at the bar on July 5th and the defendant denies that he was at the bar on July 5th, this would be an admission that he may have been at the bar on July 3rd or July 7th (or any other date).
CONJUNCTIVE DENIAL if the complaint alleges that the defendant injured the plaintiff by kicking and slapping and punching and the defendant denies that he was kicking and slapping and punching, this would constitute an admission that he was guilty but in a combination less than all three. Instead, the defendant should have responded in the disjunctive by denying that he was kicking or slapping or punching.