The word traverse originated in the early 14th century, meaning to pass across, over, or through.  It derives from the Old French traverser (verb) and traverse (noun), as well as Vulgar Latin traversare, stemming from the Latin transversus ("turned across"), which is a combination of trans_ ("across") + versus. the participle of vertere ("to turn).  Traverse has historically signified crossing, blocking (military, 16c.), and in legal contexts, denying a formal allegation.  Traverse is related to "transverse" and focuses on movement that is crosswise or athwart.  

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), traverse was first used in English during the Middle English period (1150-1500).   The earliest recorded use as a verb (meaning "to pass across, over, or through") is from before 1325, appearing in the Statutes of the Realm.  The earliest evidence for the noun form is from before 1393, in the writing of poet John Gower.  As an Adverb/Preposition: The earliest evidence of its use as an adverb/preposition was recorded around 1425, in the writing of John Lydgate. 

The traversal of characters—their movement through physical space, social landscapes, and emotional landscapes—is fundamental to storytelling because it drives the story's transformation, builds relationships, and tests a character's resolve. It is important to distinguish between the outer journey (the physical plot/traverse) and the inner journey (internal change), as the most effective narratives interlace both, allowing the physical trip to challenge the character's internal beliefs.  

Key Reasons for Including Character Traversal: 
Driving Character Development: A character must change and grow from the beginning to the end, or the story feels stagnant. The physical journey provides the necessary obstacles to force this evolution. 
Building Tension and Conflict: The "essence of drama is conflict," and travel exposes characters to adversity, unexpected dangers, and testing situations. It forces characters to choose between personal desires and team success. 
Facilitating Self-Discovery: Characters often learn about their true selves, their strengths, and their failings through the struggles they face during their travels. Understanding Others: Moving through new environments allows characters to interact with others, revealing hidden truths about friends, enemies, and family, which is part of becoming a fully realized person. 
Pacing Tool: Travel sequences can be used to control the speed of the narrative, providing moments for quiet reflection or building up to a new location's action. 

Just the facts:

TRAVERSE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

TRAVERSE Synonyms: 52 Similar Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus