half-averted

This is how so many of us looked at Ted Kennedy -- eyes half-averted -- in those days, for all those years.

Rick Horowitz: Kennedy: The Lion at Rest 2009

She resumed her conversation with Louis, but, while she talked to him, her thoughts were elsewhere: her heart beat on the side from which her face was half-averted.

Shirley, by Charlotte Bronte 2004

Behind her, Banford, clinging to the sofa-arm, was shrinking away, with half-averted head.

The Fox 2003

Her eyelids were dropped, her face half-averted and unconscious.

The Fox 2003

Chastened by the half-averted face of irresponsive science, the glowing desire to inflate the list gave way to the crisper sort of satisfaction which is like the joy that cometh in the morning.

The Confessions of a Beachcomber 2003

"Perfectly," Toni replied with a cool smile that she hoped was not going to waste on Quental's half-averted gaze.

River Of Desire Taylor, Abra 1982

Cardinal Vittorio put his other hand on the bent shoulder, nodding a dismissal to the monk, then as the door closed softly his hand went from shoulder to hair, rested in its dark thickness, smoothed it back tenderly from the half-averted forehead.

The Thorn Birds McCullough, Colleen 1977

No answer, eyes down dropped, face still half-averted, and looking as if hardening into marble.

Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter Lawrence L. Lynch

The gentleman who sits beside her professes to be sharing the view, but it is only fair I should tell the reader that under this pretence he is nefariously delighting in the rounded contour of his companion's half-averted face as she, in unfeigned engrossment, scans the panorama unrolled before them by the swift motion of the car.

Lippincott's Magazine, Vol. 22, November, 1878 of Popular Literature and Science Various

They came upon Dirk, Hark Darby, and two or three other fishermen, spreading their nets in the sun, all of whom touched their hats and nodded respectfully to Noll, eying the uncle, meanwhile, with curious eyes and half-averted faces.

Culm Rock The Story of a Year: What it Brought and What it Taught Glance Gaylord