> as lemmas

1612 W. Shute tr. G. Du Vair Holy Medit. 239 Beeing halfe dead, they shall open their eye liddes, to beehold with halfe an eye their treasures, but at the last..they must forsake all this trashe, a stronger power hales them away.

1735 London Mag. Aug. 450/1 Observe Clarinda with a beau, While you yourself are sitting by, She'll scarce vouchsafe you half an eye.

1830 Scrap Table 98 It would not be difficult to seat ones-self in the very same window-seat..whence the..Earl of Caithness was wont with ‘half an eye’ to watch the Union flying at the flag-staff in the Fort.

1883 R. L. Stevenson Treasure Island v. 40 Two of the fellows began to look here and there among the lumber, but half-heartedly, I thought, and with half an eye to their own danger all the time.

1916 J. Buchan Greenmantle vi. 105 He was growing as mad as a hatter. I kept half an eye on the clock. I was hopeful now,..looking for the right kind of chance.

1991 Economist 14 Sept. 42/1 Why bother with the Liberal Democrats?.. Worth keeping half an eye on, in case a fluke general-election result hands them brief influence in a hung parliament.

2005 MSNBC.com (Nexis) 18 May [It] is so determined to remain mainstream..that it ends up as televisual wallpaper, something to watch with half an eye as you eat dinner.