Full Idea
The best sense that can be made of a relation without relata is the idea of a universal. Thus the relation 'larger than' has formal properties that are independent of the contingencies of their instantiation.
Gist of Idea
Relations without relata must be treated as universals, with their own formal properties
Source
J Ladyman / D Ross (Every Thing Must Go [2007], 3.4)
Book Reference
Ladyman,J/Ross,D: 'Every Thing Must Go' [OUP 2007], p.152
A Reaction
Russell was keen on the idea that relations are universals, and presumably for this reason. I struggle to grasp uninstantiated but nevertheless real 'greater than' relations. They are abstractions from things, not separate universals.