cement

This is a powdery mixture made of limestone, clay and sand that, when water is added, acts as an adhesive to bind stones and bricks together.

Metaphorically, the word is used in the context of 'joining together'. Here, it can refer to personal and business relationships.

The history of the word dates back to early times as follows – 13 Century Old French ciment, arising from the Latin caementum meaning ‘stone from the quarry’ arising from the verb caedere which means ‘to hew' - to cut or cleave with an axe.