The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 13 letter word QUADRIPARTITE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
Q
U
A
D
R
I
P
A
R
T
I
T
E
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "in four sections" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case in four sections = quadripartite.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does QUADRIPARTITE mean?
QUADRIPARTITE noun- A treatise divided into four parts.
- Divided into four parts.
- Involving four parties or participants; four-party.