Someone who might ask “Mother, may I?” NYT Crossword Clue

Think of someone who might wear a habit and seek guidance from a higher authority.

A ??? is a member of a religious community of women, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

The clue plays on the phrase 'Mother, may I?' which is a children's game, but here it refers to a religious context. In a convent, a ??? might ask for permission from the Mother Superior, hence linking 'Mother' to the religious hierarchy.

Monk's counterpart, Part of an order, Mother superior, e.g., Member of a convent, Convent resident