Any possible discouragement (3)
I believe the answer is:
nay
'possible discouragement' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'any' is the wordplay.
'any' anagrams to 'NAY'.
However, I am not sure how this is indicated.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nay that I've seen before include "No (dialect); or rather" , "Archaic negative" , "Refusal" , "In point of fact - a parliamentary vote against" , "even" .)