I was forced to learn French without a bilingual dictionary from day one (I was explicitly forbidden to use them). It was hard, but after the first months I got used to focus and learn at least the gist of the words. Every time I didn't understand one important word in the definition, I'd keep track by writing it and checking word after word. It took a lot of time and effort (I usually ended up exhausted), but that's how some words and expressions come to me automatically, even now that I haven't actually spoken the language for years.
I avow it's been harder to do the same when I'm studying German, and I do cheat after a chain of two or three words that I don't understand, but it still works.
Try it for a few days and see how you feel.
