Former cipher device to gain me results (6)
I believe the answer is:
enigma
'former cipher device' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'gain me results' is the wordplay.
'results' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'result of' mean this).
'gain'+'me'='gainme'
'gainme' anagrammed gives 'ENIGMA'.
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for enigma that I've seen before include "Puzzle of gamine (6)," , "closed book" , "Riddle - German coding machine" , "Title of Elgar's set of variations" , "Difficult problem" .)