## Etymology of the O-notation for algebras of holomorphic functions

The notation $O(X)$ seems to be a quite standard notation for the algebra of all holomorphic functions on some connected domain in $\mathbb{C}^n$ (or a complex manifold). I would like to know where did this notation come from.

John P. D'Angelo's book, simply says "See [GR, p.2] for a discussion of the etymology of this standard notation." where [GR] is Grauert and Remmert's "Coherent analytic sheaves". However I have no access to that book.

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You mean O, not $\Omega$, right? And "holomorphic" functions, not homomorphic ones. Anyway, back in the 19th century Dedekind used the fraktur letter O (well, more often o I think) to denote rings of algebraic integers. It came from his term Ordnung for what later became rings, more or less. Thus in complex analysis the fundamental ring of holomorphic functions became denoted with O too, but they like to think it also honors the work of Oka. :) – KConrad Mar 25 2012 at 4:41
Thanks, fixed. I hope I could mark this as the answer. Is this also why the structural sheaf of a manifold also shares this notation? – ssquidd Mar 25 2012 at 6:42
I've heard that it comes from the Italian "(Funzione) Olomorfa" but have never seen it written anywhere. – Georges Elencwajg Mar 25 2012 at 10:23