始祖 is read as しそ (shiso) and means founder.
しそ
shiso
しそちょう
Archaeopteryx
しまつ
end result (usu. bad)
しきゅうしき
ceremonial first pitch
しまつしょ
written explanation
しぎょうしき
opening ceremony (of the school term)
しき
beginning period
してん
point of departure
しげん
start
はじめにことばありき
In the beginning was the Word
はじめよければおわりよし
a good beginning makes a good ending
はじめね
opening price
しまつがわるい
hard to deal with