Only a section of some recent work (4)
I believe the answer is:
mere
'only' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'a section of some recent work' is the wordplay.
'a section of' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'MERE' can be found hidden inside 'some recent work'.
(Other definitions for mere that I've seen before include "of no significance" , "bathing may be permitted in this?" , "President Hollande's mother?" , "Simply, nothing more than" , "Bare, simple" .)