public function setProperties(array $properties)
    {
        foreach ($properties as $propertyIdent => $propertyMetadata) {
            if (isset($this->properties[$propertyIdent])) {
                $this->properties[$propertyIdent] = array_replace_recursive(
                    $this->properties[$propertyIdent],
                    $propertyMetadata
                );
            } else {
                $this->properties[$propertyIdent] = $propertyMetadata;
            }
        }

        return $this;
    }