a. [f. TRAVERSE v. + -ABLE.]
1. Capable of being traversed or crossed.
a. 1656. Ussher, Ann., vi. (1658), 218. Darius commanded it to be made all level, that it might be made the more traverseable for his horse.
1768. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), I. 8. The land of philosophy … partly … traversable only by the speculative.
1812. Examiner, 31 Aug., 557/2. Every quarter of the traversible globe.
1859. Tennent, Ceylon, II. VII. ii. 121. Roads … open and traversable at all seasons.
2. Law. Capable of being traversed or formally denied.
1534. Star Chamb. Cases (Selden), II. 323. Eny other thyng, being materyall or trauersable, and not before aunswered confessed, avoyded, or trauersed, is true.
1588. W. Lambarde, Eiren., IV. v. (1602), 473. It neither contained the place where, nor the person to whome the lether was sold, both which be materiall and trauersable.
1620. J. Wilkinson, Courts Leet, 110. A presentment made by fewer than by xii is traversable.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 70. The Bishops Certificate … is not Peremptory but Traversable.
1884. Sir H. Cotton, in Law Times Rep., LI. 535/2. Returns such as this … have not generally been traversed … but it does not … follow that they are not traversable.
3. Capable of being traced continuously, as a geometrical figure.
1905. J. C. Wilson, Traversing Geometr. Figures, I. § 29. 43. Resolution of a figure into a minimum of figures traversable in one traverse.
