relationship

relatedness or connection by blood or marriage or adoption

a relation between people; (`relationship' is often used where `relation' would serve, as in `the relationship between inflation and unemployment', but the preferred usage of `relationship' is for human relations or states of relatedness)

“the relationship between mothers and their children”

a state involving mutual dealings between people or parties or countries

a state of connectedness between people (especially an emotional connection)

“he didn't want his wife to know of the relationship”