• to dream, to dream, dreamt, to moon, to moon about, to romance, to star-gaze
• day-dream, daydream, reverie, star-gazing, wishful thinking
• to catch at shadows, to run after shadows
• to disappoint, to disenchant, to disillusion
• disenchanted, disillusioned
• balk, disappointment, disillusion, disillusioning, disillusionment, jolt