The standing shape between two beings, carried between meetings. A relationship is what remains when neither is in the room.
Built on relation, from Latin relatio, from referre (to carry back): re- (back) + ferre (to carry), with the English suffix -ship (a shape given); a relationship is the shape a carrying-back between two beings takes on and keeps, even between meetings.
The standing shape between two beings, carried between meetings rather than remade at each one. It is what remains of the root's carrying-back when neither party is in the room to renew it.