a common law pleading that denies the opposing party’s allegations of fact. GENERAL TRAVERSE a blanket denial, stated in general terms, intended to cover all the allegations SPECIAL TRAVERSEe a denial that is not absolute, but that seeks to establish a denial through the presentation of supplementary facts (or new matter) that, if accurate, would render the allegations untenable. Source: Barron's Dictionary of Legal Terms, Steven H. Gifis, 5th Edition; © 2016